by the Curist Team
Curist delivers FDA-approved medicines to your door at a fraction of the price of traditional brands. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time.
Can I Use My HSA or FSA For OTC Allergy Medicine and Other Over-The-Counter Drugs?
The short answer: yes! Because of recent legislation, you can use your HSA or FSA account to purchase over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. Read below to learn more about using HSA and FSA cards for over-the-counter medicines.
What is an HSA (Health Savings Account)?
A health savings account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged healthcare account only for people with high-deductible health plans (HDHP). You can contribute pre-tax funds to an HSA and spend these funds on eligible medical products. Unused funds stay in the HSA account, and they never expire. Check here for the minimum deductible threshold to qualify for this type of account and the maximum contribution per year.
What is an FSA (Flexible Savings Account)?
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a healthcare account in which you can set aside pre-tax income for healthcare expenses. An FSA account is part of employer-sponsored healthcare packages. Unlike an HSA, funds in an FSA account expire on a yearly basis, unless otherwise specified. Funds in an FSA account can be used on eligible medical products.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for Over-The-Counter Medicine?
Funds in your HSA or FSA accounts can only be used for qualifying medical expenses, including prescription drugs, vaccines, and over-the-counter (OTC) products. Until recently, OTC medications only qualified for reimbursement with a note or prescription from a doctor. The March 2020 CARES Act removed this requirement. Now, HSA and FSA cards can be used to buy non-prescription allergy medications and other OTC drugs without a prescription.
Can I Use My HSA or FSA for Allergy Medicine and Other Allergy Products?
The following OTC allergy products now qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement without a prescription:
- Antihistamines
- Nasal sprays
- Decongestants
- Sinus rinses
- Nasal wash systems (e.g., Neti pots)
- Anti-itch creams
- Steam inhalers
Certain products, like HEPA filters, may be eligible for reimbursement with a notice of medical necessity.
Are Curist Medicines Eligible for HSA and FSA Reimbursement?
Yes! All Curist medicines are eligible for both HSA and FSA reimbursement without a prescription.
There are two options for using your funds on Curist products:
- Use your HSA card or FSA card directly on our website. Payments are processed via Sika, a secure, PCI compliant payment gateway.
- Use another payment method, save your receipt, and reimburse yourself from the HSA or FSA account. Curist makes this easy by automatically emailing you a copy of your receipt after purchase.
It is important to keep track of all purchases you make with your HSA or FSA. The good news: Curist sends confirmation emails and receipts for all purchases and you can email us anytime at hi@curistrelief if you have any questions!
