What Vitamins Are FSA HSA Eligible?

People often ask about vitamins, supplements, and even essential oils when planning their HSA-eligible purchases. It’s a common question: Are vitamins covered by FSA or HSA accounts?

Many people take daily multivitamins, nutritional supplements, or dietary supplements to support nutritional needs or improve general health, not to treat medical conditions. People often assume vitamins are automatically covered, but to be a covered, eligible expense, they must be prescribed to treat a medical condition or aid a diagnosis.

That’s why, when it comes to using your HSA or FSA for vitamins, things can get a little murky.

For example, while prenatal vitamins are considered a medical necessity since they prevent birth defects, most vitamins are considered general wellness products. This means many vitamins are not a qualified medical expense or a medical necessity. Prenatal vitamins are among the most common HSA-eligible vitamins for American families looking to prevent birth defects and support fetal development.

However, there are some other FSA and HSA-eligible vitamins exceptions you should know about so you can take full advantage of your benefits.

What Determines Vitamin Eligibility?

FSAs and HSAs are meant to help cover eligible expenses associated with medical care. “Medical care” as defined by the IRS includes amounts paid to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent a disease, or to impact the function or structure of the body.

Based on this guidance, vitamins and nutritional supplements sit in a gray area because they often serve “dual purposes.” They might help the body, but most people use them to maintain general health rather than to address a specific medical condition.

For that reason, daily multivitamins and nutritional supplements generally aren’t considered HSA-eligible vitamins or FSA-qualified expenses.

However, there are a couple of exceptions, including prenatal vitamins. Prenatal vitamins qualify as an eligible medical expense because they help prevent birth defects and support fetal development, which is a recognized medical necessity.

Supplements like glucosamine or chondroitin may also be covered because they may reduce joint pain and arthritis. That means they are used for a specific medical condition, rather than for overall health.

Some products, like essential oils, might be marketed as natural treatments but do not meet IRS section guidelines for reimbursement.

There is one specific way supplements may be FSA or HSA-eligible. That happens when your doctor recommends supplements for a diagnosed medical condition, or if the specific vitamin or supplement is necessary for treatment. Then, they may qualify as a covered medical expense if their purpose meets the IRS definition of medical necessity.

What Vitamins Are Excluded?

In order to understand whether or not a vitamin or supplement is an eligible FSA or HSA expense, it is important to understand what dietary supplements are. A dietary supplement is the umbrella term used for vitamins, minerals, protein powders, etc.

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 defined dietary supplements as: a product intended for ingestion that, among other requirements, contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet.

It also defined a “dietary ingredient” as including “vitamins and minerals; herbs and other botanicals; amino acids; ‘dietary substances’ that are part of the food supply, such as enzymes and live microbials (commonly referred to as “probiotics”); and concentrates, metabolites, constituents, extracts, or combinations of any dietary ingredient from the preceding categories.”

The term “new dietary ingredient” was also introduced and is used for any dietary ingredient that wasn’t sold in U.S. dietary supplements before October 15, 1994.

For a dietary supplement, including vitamins and minerals other than prenatal vitamins, to be FSA or HSA-eligible, it has to fit the legal definition of a dietary ingredient and be used to improve a medical condition. 

Most vitamins, especially daily multivitamins taken primarily for general health, don’t meet the requirements for HSA-eligible vitamins. Any specific vitamin you take mainly to support general health likely won’t qualify as a reimbursable medical expense.

But if it is prescribed to treat a specific medical condition, your HSA or FSA may cover it as an eligible expense.

Also, products like essential oils typically are not covered because they are not dietary supplements.

What Is A “New Dietary Ingredient” In A Dietary Supplement?

As mentioned above, a new dietary ingredient is any dietary substance not marketed as a supplement in the United States before October 15, 1994.

Unfortunately, there’s no master list of ingredients used before 1994, so manufacturers and distributors must confirm if a product qualifies as a new dietary ingredient, document its background, and show that it is safe.

Which Expenses Are Eligible For HSA, FSA, And HRA Reimbursement?

Wondering what other items qualify for reimbursement through your HSA, FSA, or HRA account?

These over-the-counter services and medications qualify as medical expenses because they treat a specific medical condition.

• Pain relief medication
• Allergy or sinus treatments
• Acne products
• Cold and flu remedies
• Eye drops
• Sleep aids
• Laxatives
• Baby rash ointments
• Nasal sprays
• Motion sickness medicine
• Feminine antifungal or anti-itch products
• Ointments for cuts, burns, or rashes

These are recognized because they have been recognized by the medical community to help diagnose, treat, or prevent a specific illness or medical condition.