Health Savings Accounts, Qualified Expenses:

Qualified medical expenses are those expenses paid for medical care as described in Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Insurance premiums are considered qualified medical expenses when they are for payment for a health plan as stated in Section 220(d)(2) of the code. IRS Publication 502, titled "Medical and Dental Expenses", provides more detailed information on eligible expenses.

The following is a brief summary of information and are intended to serve as a quick reference to help determine whether or not an expense may be eligible for HSA reimbursement. This information is not tax advice. Tax advice should be obtained from a professional tax advisor. IRS Publication 502 can be ordered from the IRS 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

 
Qualified Medical Expenses Eligible for reimbursement
  • Acupuncture
  • Alcoholism Treatment
  • Ambulance
  • Artificial Limb
  • Artificial Teeth
  • Bandages
  • Birth Control Pills (by prescription)
  • Breast Reconstruction
  • Car Special Hand Controls (for disability)
  • Certain Capital Expenses (for the disabled)
  • Chiropractors
  • Christian Science Practitioners
  • COBRA premiums
  • Contact Lenses
  • Cosmetic Surgery (if due to trauma or disease)
  • Crutches
  • Dental Treatment
  • Dermatologist
  • Diagnostic Devices
  • Disabled Dependent Care
  • Drug Addiction Treatment (inpatient) Drugs (prescription)
  • Eyeglasses
  • Fertility Enhancement
  • Guide Dog
  • Gynecologist
  • Health Institute (if prescribed by physician)
  • H.M.O. (certain expenses)
  • Hearing Aids
  • Home Care
  • Hospital Services
  • Laboratory Fees
  • Lasik Surgery
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Learning Disability Fees (prescription)
  • Legal Fees (if for mental illness)
  • Life-Care Fees
  • Lodging (for out-patient treatment)
  • Long-Term Care (medical expenses)
  • Long-Term Care Insurance (up to allowable limits)
  • Meals (associated with receiving treatments)
  • Medical Conferences (for ill spouse/dependent)
  • Medicare Deductibles
  • Medicare Premiums
  • Mentally Retarded (specialized homes)
  • Nursing Care
  • Nursing Homes
  • Obstetrician
  • Operating Room Costs
  • Operations - Surgical
  • Ophthalmologist
  • Optician
  • Optometrist
  • Organ Transplant (including donor’s expenses)
  • Orthodonture
  • Orthopedic Shoes
  • Orthopedist
  • Osteopath
  • Out-of-pocket expenses while enrolled in Medicare
  • Over-the-Counter Medicines
  • Oxygen and Equipment
  • Pediatrician
  • Personal Care Services (chronically ill)
  • Podiatrist
  • Post-Nasal Treatments
  • Prenatal Care
  • Prescription Medicines
  • Prosthesis
  • PSA Test
  • Psychiatric Care
  • Psychiatrist
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychoanalyst
  • Psychologist
  • Qualified Long-Term Care Services
  • Radium Treatment
  • Smoking Cessation Programs
  • Special Education for Children (ill or disabled)
  • Specialists
  • Spinal Tests
  • Splints
  • Sterilization
  • Surgery (mastectomy) Expenses
  • Surgeon
  • Telephones and Television for the Hearing Impaired
  • Therapy
  • Transportation Expenses for Health Care
  • Treatment
  • Vaccines
  • Vitamins (if prescribed)
  • Weight Loss Programs
  • Wheelchair
  • Wig (hair loss from disease)
  • X-Rays

Expenses not eligible for reimbursement
  • advance payment for services to be rendered next year
  • athletic club membership
  • automobile insurance premium
  • allocable to medical coverage
  • boarding school fees
  • bottled water
  • commuting expenses of a disabled person
  • cosmetic surgery and procedures
  • cosmetics, hygiene products and similar items
  • diaper service
  • domestic help
  • funeral, cremation or burial expenses
  • health programs offered by resort hotels, health clubs and gyms
  • illegal operations and treatments
  • illegally procured drugs
  • maternity clothes
  • nonprescription medication
  • premiums for life insurance, income protection, disability, loss of limbs, sight or similar benefits
  • Scientology counseling
  • social activities
  • special foods or beverages
  • specially designed car for handicapped other than autoette or special equipment
  • stop smoking programs
  • swimming pool
  • travel for general health improvement
  • tuition and travel expenses for sending a problem child to a particular school
  • weight loss programs