A Health Savings Account (HSA) allows you to pay for eligible medical expenses with tax-free dollars—but what types of expenses qualify?

Doctor Visits and Prescriptions

With an HSA, you typically don’t have upfront copayments for doctor visits or prescriptions. Instead, you pay the full (discounted) cost of services, and those out-of-pocket expenses can be reimbursed tax-free from your HSA. But qualified HSA expenses go far beyond what’s covered by your health insurance plan.

Dental, Vision, Hearing, and Chiropractic Care

You can also use your HSA funds to pay for services that are often not covered by insurance, including:

  • Dental visits and procedures

  • Eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses

  • Hearing exams and hearing aids

  • Chiropractic care

Insurance Premiums

HSA funds can be used to pay for certain insurance premiums, including:

  • COBRA continuation coverage

  • Individual health insurance premiums while receiving unemployment benefits

  • Qualified long-term care insurance

  • Medicare Part B and Part D premiums (but not Medicare Supplement premiums)

Expenses for Non-Covered Dependents

You can use your HSA to pay for medical care for your spouse or dependents, even if they aren’t enrolled in your health plan. For example, you can use HSA funds to take your children to the doctor or dentist, regardless of their insurance coverage.

Over-the-Counter Items

Over-the-counter drugs and medications are once again eligible HSA expenses—even without a prescription. This includes common items like pain relievers, allergy medication, cold and flu remedies, and more. You can also use your HSA to purchase over-the-counter medical supplies such as:

  • Bandages and first aid kits

  • Thermometers and blood pressure monitors

  • Contact lens solution

  • Sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)

Where to Find a Full List of Eligible Expenses

This is just a partial list of qualified medical expenses. For a more comprehensive list, refer to IRS Publication 502, which is updated annually. You can find it by visiting irs.gov and searching for “Publication 502.”