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Qualified medical expenses

Use our search tool below to find out what expenses qualify.

Filter by account type and expense type to learn what you can buy with your health account.

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Pay the faster way - use your HSA or FSA card

From bandages to braces, swipe your card and know you’re saving time and money – up to 30% off every time you use your account.*

Save more with Optum Store – 7% savings on FSA purchases with code OPTFSA7 and 5% on HSA purchases with code OPTHSA5.

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COVID-19 updates

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  • On March 26, 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released IRS Announcement 2021-7, which states that personal protective equipment such as masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes that are purchased “for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19” are qualified medical expenses under Section 213(d) of the Code.

    Health savings account (HSA) participants may use the funds in their HSA to pay for masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes on a pre-tax basis. Sponsors of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) may also allow these expenses to be reimbursed from their plans. Plan sponsors should review their plan documents with their legal counsel to determine if they need to make any amendments in light of the new announcement. 

    OR

  • Certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medications, as well as menstrual care products, are now considered qualified medical expenses, without the need for a physician prescription. You may use HSA, FSA or HRA funds to pay for these products.

    • For FSAs and HRAs, you can use your account funds to purchase these products. Use your Optum Bank payment Mastercard® as you normally would for these purchases. Individual merchants, like pharmacies and convenience stores, must update their point of sale (POS) system to now recognize these products as qualified medical expenses for FSA and HRA. If their system is not updated and the sale doesn’t process, you can pay out of pocket with the option to reimburse yourself with account funds. As a reminder, keep your itemized receipt or explanations of benefits, which are needed to verify each purchase so you can be reimbursed. To submit a claim for reimbursement, sign in to optumbank.com and select File a Claim from the "I want to" section. 
    • For HSAs, you may use your debit card as you normally would since no claim reimbursement process is required. Please retain copies of your receipts as needed for tax purposes.
    • Both provisions for OTC and menstrual products apply to amounts paid or expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2020, and are ongoing without an expiration date.
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Qualified medical expenses (QME) are designated by the IRS. They include medical, dental, vision and prescription expenses. The examples listed above are not all-inclusive, and the IRS may modify its list at any time.

Consult your tax advisor or see IRS publication 502 or IRS publication 969 for more information.

*Limitations apply. See IRS Publication 502 for more information.

Please keep in mind that your employer might have additional limitations on what can be purchased with your account funds. See your plan documents for more information.

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Information pertaining to qualified medical expenses (QMEs) are taken from applicable tax laws, interpretations, and publications, as applicable. Tax laws are subject to change and interpretation. Please consult a tax advisor for applicability to your individual situation.

Certain Limited Purpose FSA plans will turn to a post deductible plan (allowing medical and Rx) once the entire medical plan deductible is met. Once the entire medical deductible is met, then the health care FSA list applies.

 

*Assuming 22% federal income tax and 7.65% FICA tax. Results and amount will vary depending on your particular circumstances.