Dear Gina – My allergies have really been kicking up this year. What allergy products & treatments are eligible for reimbursement in my FSA/HSA plan? I’d like to be able to breathe easier.
A: Most allergy medications these days are purchased over the counter. Luckily, in 2020, the CARES Act amended the eligible expenses list to include many OTC medicines. So, yes, decongestants and antihistamine products are eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement without a doctor’s prescription. Other products, however, like steam inhalers, air purifiers or water filters may be eligible, but would require a doctor’s note of medical necessity. As a general rule of thumb, products that you would own regardless of whether or not you had allergies, i.e. a vacuum cleaner and Kleenex, are not eligible for reimbursement.
– Gina