HRA, FSA or HSA: What to Know About Eligible Expenses
Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) all help you pay for healthcare using pre-tax dollars. In many cases, they cover the same types of expenses.
Where people tend to get tripped up isn’t the account itself, it’s understanding what qualifies as an eligible expense. In general, all three accounts are intended to cover costs related to diagnosing, treating, or preventing a medical condition.
You can often use your FSA, HRA, or HSA for everyday health-related items, as long as the expense has a clear medical purpose and isn’t simply for general wellness or personal use.
Sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)
First aid supplies
Contact lens solution
Pregnancy tests
Menstrual care products
Why Some Items Don't Qualify
FSA, HSA and HRA funds can only be used for expenses that are primarily for medical care—like diagnosing, treating, or preventing a specific health condition. Items that support general health or wellness aren’t eligible unless there’s a clear medical need.
Here are some common examples:
What it comes down to:
The IRS requires that expenses be mainly for medical care. If something is used for general health, personal comfort, or lifestyle, it typically won’t qualify unless you have documentation showing it’s medically necessary under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Make it Personal
How you use your FSA or HSA depends on your lifestyle, habits, and priorities. Some people stock up on prevention, others on self care, and some plan around family needs.
Take our Wellness Personality Quiz to see:
Which eligible items fit your routine
How you naturally approach health spending
Ways to make the most of your FSA, HSA or HRA
