Travel, Pets and Edge Cases

Some of the biggest questions about FSA and HSA eligibility live in the gray areas. Can you cover travel to see a specialist? What about a service dog? Home modifications for accessibility? Alternative treatments you've been thinking about?

This section covers the edge cases: the things that fall outside the usual pharmacy or doctor visit. These are expenses that often qualify, but not always. They depend on whether a licensed clinician will connect your purchase to a diagnosed condition with a Letter of Medical Necessity.

Here's what brings people here: travel to get care you can't find locally, parking and transportation costs related to medical appointments, service animals and other accessibility purchases, home modifications that treat a condition, alternative therapies backed by medical evidence. Each falls into one of three categories: outright eligible, eligible with a letter, or not covered.

A Letter of Medical Necessity is your ticket for many of these. When the rules are gray, the letter makes the case.