Is Hand Sanitizer FSA or HSA Eligible?

Short answer

Hand sanitizer is a reimbursable medical expense under IRS Publication 502 when you buy it for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

No letter is needed. The same rule covers face masks and hand sanitizing wipes. Your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator reviews your claim based on the stated use and the purchase date.

Personal protective equipment is reimbursable under Publication 502

The IRS lists personal protective equipment in Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. It says you can include "amounts you pay for personal protective equipment, such as masks, hand sanitizer and hand sanitizing wipes, for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)" in medical expenses. The purpose test is the IRS's own wording, so a plan may ask how it applies to your purchase.

Hand sanitizer is reimbursable outright

Hand sanitizer bought for the primary purpose of COVID-19 prevention qualifies as a medical expense. No prescription is needed, no letter is required, and the purchase is reimbursable outright from your FSA, HSA or HRA.

You can swipe your FSA, HSA or HRA card at the register, or pay with any other card and get reimbursed afterward. The rule names hand sanitizer outright, so there's no clinical judgment for anyone to make. The question is only whether you bought it to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Publication 969 explains how FSAs, HSAs and HRAs pay for qualified medical expenses like this one.

No letter is needed for hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer, masks and sanitizing wipes are reimbursable without a letter because the IRS names them directly and sets the primary purpose as COVID-19 prevention. There's no condition for a clinician to write down.

Other items in the personal protection and home health family do require a letter. An air purifier for diagnosed asthma or allergies, for example, needs a letter naming the condition.

How to buy hand sanitizer

Hand sanitizer is straightforward to purchase. Buy it with your FSA, HSA or HRA card at any pharmacy, grocery store or online retailer that accepts it. Or pay with any card and request reimbursement afterward. Burst files the claim with your administrator.

Keep the receipt. It shows the item, the date and the price, and that's what a plan reviewer looks at first.

Related items in the personal protection family

Face masks

Surgical masks, N95 masks and other face masks qualify under the same IRS ruling. They are reimbursable outright when bought for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Hand sanitizing wipes

Hand sanitizing wipes follow the same rule as hand sanitizer. They are reimbursable outright as personal protective equipment for COVID-19 prevention, with no letter required.

Getting hand sanitizer reimbursed with Burst

Burst handles the letter and the claim. You request the letter of medical necessity in about two minutes for $35, a licensed clinician reviews it, and it typically lands in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator. The administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back. Request it before you buy, because the letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers.

Get reimbursed for my hand sanitizer

Frequently asked questions

Is hand sanitizer FSA eligible?

Yes, hand sanitizer is reimbursable under IRS Publication 502 when bought for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19. No letter is required.

Is hand sanitizer HSA eligible?

Yes, the same rule applies to HSA accounts. Hand sanitizer is a reimbursable medical expense for COVID-19 prevention.

Does hand sanitizer need a letter?

No. The IRS ruling names hand sanitizer directly and specifies the primary purpose, so no letter is needed. Your plan administrator reviews the purchase and the stated use.

Can I use my FSA card to buy hand sanitizer?

Yes. You can use your FSA, HSA or HRA card at a retailer that accepts it, or pay with another card and get reimbursed afterward. The purchase has to meet the same primary purpose test.

What counts as the primary purpose for COVID-19 prevention?

The IRS wording is preventing the spread of COVID-19. Your plan may ask how a purchase fits that, so keep the receipt and be ready to say what the sanitizer was for.

Are hand sanitizing wipes also reimbursable?

Yes. Hand sanitizing wipes are covered under the same IRS ruling as hand sanitizer. They are reimbursable outright with no letter required.

Are face masks reimbursable?

Yes. Face masks are reimbursable outright under the same personal protective equipment ruling. The primary purpose must be preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Keep reading: Is an air purifier FSA or HSA eligible?, What can I use my FSA funds on?, What can I use my HSA funds on?, and all guides on this topic.

Sources

• IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (Personal Protective Equipment: hand sanitizer, masks and hand sanitizing wipes are reimbursable for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19)

• IRS Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (how FSA, HSA and HRA accounts reimburse qualified medical expenses)