Where to Shop Online With an FSA or HSA

Short answer

Yes. Your FSA or HSA card works online at Amazon, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Target and Costco for items each store marks as eligible. At any other store, or for anything the card won't cover, pay with any card and get reimbursed instead.

The card only ever covers items that qualify outright. Gym memberships, fitness equipment, supplements and wellness devices like mattresses and humidifiers are reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity, and that route is the same at every store: buy it any way you like, and Burst files the claim.

Does the card work there, and for what

Your FSA or HSA card works online at major retailers, but only for items marked eligible. Here's what each retailer's filter covers:

Each of these stores marks items that qualify as medical expenses under IRS Publication 502, and the card approves only those. Anything outside that list declines at checkout, whatever the store.

Items there that need a letter

Some items are reimbursable with a letter of medical necessity, and no online store's card filter will approve them: gym memberships, fitness equipment, vitamins and supplements, and wellness devices like mattresses and humidifiers. IRS Publication 502 treats these as personal expenses until a clinician ties them to a diagnosed condition, which is what the letter does.

The route is the same at every retailer in the table and at any store that isn't. Request the letter first, because it has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers. Then buy the item with any card. 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. Request a letter before you shop.

How the store marks eligible items

Each retailer flags eligible items in its own way, on the product page, in a dedicated FSA and HSA section, or only at checkout. The guide linked for each store in the table shows where to look and what still declines there.

Treat the store's label as a convenience, not a ruling. If an item is marked eligible and your card still declines it, either the item doesn't qualify under IRS Publication 502 or your plan restricts it beyond the IRS baseline. Your plan document decides, so check it or ask your administrator before you try again.

Paying another way and getting reimbursed

You don't have to use your FSA or HSA card online at all. Pay with any card or payment method at any retailer, then get reimbursed. Burst files the claim on your behalf. For items that need a letter, request it before you buy, since the letter has to be dated on or before the purchase.

Here's how it works. Buy the item at any store with any payment method. If the item needs a letter (a gym membership, a fitness tracker, supplements), request one from Burst first. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator. Your administrator pays you out of your account by deposit or check.

You can buy from any retailer this way, not just the six above. Use this path when you want a specific brand, a local store, or an item the big online retailers don't carry. The where to shop hub has the guide for every store we've covered.

Getting it reimbursed with Burst

Here's the practical route. Request a letter of medical necessity from Burst ($35 once, about two minutes). A licensed clinician reviews it and it's typically in your inbox within 24 hours. Burst files the reimbursement claim with your FSA, HSA or HRA administrator, who pays you out of your account by deposit or check. If there's no letter there's no charge, and a denied claim means your money back. The letter has to be dated on or before the purchase it covers, so do this step first.

Request my letter for $35

Frequently asked questions

Can I use my FSA or HSA card at other online stores?

Some smaller retailers take FSA and HSA cards, but the six in the table are the largest online options. At any store, the card works only for items the store marks eligible and only if its checkout processes FSA and HSA cards. If the card doesn't work, pay with any other method and get reimbursed instead.

What happens if my card is declined for an item marked eligible?

The store's filter uses IRS rules as a baseline, but your plan may restrict some items further. IRS Publication 969 leaves the details to the plan, so your plan document governs what your administrator reimburses. Ask your administrator, or pay with another card and request reimbursement.

Do I need a letter before buying with my card at these retailers?

Only for items that need one, and for those the card won't approve the purchase anywhere. Outright items like over-the-counter medicines, sunscreen and hearing aids need no letter. Fitness equipment, supplements and wellness devices do: request the letter first, pay any way you like, and Burst files the claim.

What if I pay at a retailer that doesn't accept my card?

Pay with any other card or payment method, then request reimbursement. Burst files the claim with your administrator, who pays you out of your account. You'll need a letter if the item requires one, however you paid.

Keep reading: FSA and HSA for vision and glasses, Complete list of FSA eligible items, Complete list of HSA eligible items, and all guides on this topic.

Sources

• IRS Publication 502 - Medical and Dental Expenses (definition of medical expenses, eligibility rules for over-the-counter medicines, supplements, fitness, wellness devices, and other items mentioned)

• IRS Publication 969 - Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans (FSA and HSA account rules and spending eligibility)