Are Vitamins and Supplements FSA or HSA Eligible?
Vitamins and supplements need a letter of medical necessity to be reimbursable from FSA, HSA and HRA accounts. Without a letter, they're not eligible.
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Short answer
Vitamins and supplements are reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity when a clinician ties them to a diagnosed condition. This applies to all vitamins, supplements, protein powders, probiotics, collagen and similar products.
The key is the medical purpose. A clinician has to name a diagnosed condition and explain how the vitamin or supplement treats it. If the purpose is general health with no condition, it's not reimbursable. Request your letter before you buy, since it has to be dated on or before the purchase.
The short answer on vitamins and supplements
The IRS states that "you can't include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, "natural medicines," etc." unless they're recommended by a practitioner as treatment for a specific condition. Vitamins with a diagnosed medical purpose are reimbursable with a letter.
Vitamins, supplements and when you need a letter
The reimbursement status of a vitamin or supplement depends entirely on whether a clinician can tie it to a diagnosed medical condition.
Vitamin or Supplement | FSA, HSA or HRA? |
|---|---|
Multivitamin (for general health, no diagnosed condition) | Not reimbursable |
Multivitamin (prescribed for a diagnosed nutrient deficiency) | With a letter |
Vitamin D (for general wellness) | Not reimbursable |
Vitamin D (for diagnosed deficiency or bone health condition) | With a letter |
Protein powder or protein supplement (for general fitness) | Not reimbursable |
Protein powder (prescribed after surgery or for muscle-wasting condition) | With a letter |
Probiotics (for general digestion) | Not reimbursable |
Probiotics (for diagnosed IBS or digestive disorder) | With a letter |
Collagen (for general skin or joint health) | Not reimbursable |
Collagen (for diagnosed osteoarthritis or joint condition) | With a letter |
Creatine (for athletic performance) | Not reimbursable |
Creatine (for diagnosed muscle disorder) | With a letter |
When a letter makes a vitamin or supplement reimbursable
A clinician has to diagnose a specific medical condition and explain in writing how the vitamin or supplement treats it. The rule is that they must be "recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition" to qualify. Common examples include a nutrient deficiency, bone health condition, digestive disorder, muscle loss after surgery or illness, or a chronic condition that affects nutrient absorption. The clinician doesn't need to prescribe the supplement in the traditional sense. They just need to confirm that it's medically necessary treatment for your diagnosed condition.
General wellness purposes like anti-aging, energy, immunity boosting or athletic performance don't qualify for reimbursement. The clinician can only write a letter when there's a real diagnosed medical condition behind the recommendation.
How to get reimbursed for vitamins or supplements
Request your letter before you buy. The letter must be dated on or before your purchase so your administrator approves the claim. Work with a clinician such as your doctor, nurse practitioner, or registered dietitian who can diagnose the condition and write the medical necessity letter.
Once you have the letter, buy your vitamin or supplement with any card at any store or online retailer. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. You never submit the letter yourself.
Related vitamins and supplements
The same letter requirement applies to all nutritional supplements and herbal products under the same IRS rule: they must be "recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition". Examples include biotin, magnesium, iron, calcium, fish oil, turmeric, ashwagandha and other herbal supplements. The deciding factor is always whether a clinician can tie the purchase to a diagnosed condition.
Getting vitamins or supplements reimbursed with Burst
If what you're buying needs a letter of medical necessity, Burst writes it and files the claim. $35 once, about two minutes to request, reviewed by a licensed clinician, typically in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, and the administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check. No letter, no charge. Claim denied, money back. The letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so request it before you buy.
Get reimbursed for my vitamins
Frequently asked questions
Are multivitamins FSA or HSA eligible?
Multivitamins are reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity from a clinician tying them to a diagnosed nutrient deficiency or health condition. A general health multivitamin needs this letter to be eligible.
What vitamin and supplement items are FSA eligible?
Any vitamin or supplement can be reimbursable with a letter when a clinician ties it to a diagnosed condition. The letter requirement applies to all vitamins and supplements.
Is a multivitamin FSA eligible?
Only with a letter. A general multivitamin bought for overall health isn't reimbursable. But if you've been diagnosed with a nutrient deficiency or a condition that affects nutrient absorption, a clinician can write a letter making it reimbursable.
Can I get a letter for protein powder or collagen?
Yes, if a clinician can tie it to a diagnosed condition. Protein powder prescribed after surgery for recovery or for a muscle-wasting condition is reimbursable with a letter. Collagen for a diagnosed joint condition like osteoarthritis is reimbursable with a letter. Both require the letter to qualify.
What probiotics are FSA or HSA eligible?
Probiotics are reimbursable with a letter when prescribed by a clinician for a diagnosed digestive disorder such as IBS or Crohn's disease. General digestive probiotics require the letter to be eligible.
Do I need to buy a specific brand or strength?
No. Any brand or strength is fine as long as your clinician's letter supports the purchase. The letter just has to explain the medical condition and how the vitamin or supplement treats it.
Keep reading: Complete guide to FSA and HSA eligible items, What Can I Use My HSA Funds On?, What Can I Use My FSA Funds On?, and all guides on this topic.
Sources
IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (Nutritional supplements and vitamins require a recommendation by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition to be reimbursable)
IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (HSA accounts reimburse the same qualified medical expenses as FSA and HRA accounts)
Healthcare.gov Glossary - FSA, HSA and HRA Information (Account types and qualified medical expense rules)
