Yes, contact lenses are eligible for reimbursement with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). They qualify as medical expenses under IRS Code Section 213(d) because they are essential for correcting vision and addressing specific medical conditions related to eyesight.
Why Are Contact Lenses FSA/HSA Eligible?
Contact lenses are FSA/HSA eligible because they are prescribed medical devices designed to improve or correct vision, making them a necessary healthcare expense. According to IRS guidelines, expenses for products or services required to diagnose, treat, or correct a medical condition are reimbursable.
Contact lenses are specifically recognized as eligible because they serve a medical purpose, such as treating myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism. In addition, items directly related to contact lenses, such as cleaning solutions and storage cases, may also qualify for reimbursement when they are necessary for lens care.
How to Purchase Contact Lenses With an FSA/HSA
Ask your optometrist about paying for contact lenses with your Flexible Spending or Health Savings Account—you should be able to swipe your FSA/HSA card to purchase them. If you order replacement lenses online, you can enter your FSA/HSA card details in the payment information form when prompted.
You can also pay for the contact lenses out of pocket and request a reimbursement later. To do this, make the payment with your regular card and then ask your optometrist or lens provider to send you a receipt containing the following information:
Name of the provider
Date of purchase/service rendered (note that for services, they must be rendered within the plan year for FSAs)
Description of items/services rendered
Itemized list of products purchased with UPCs (if purchasing items at a retailer that doesn’t accept FSA/HSA cards or if using a regular credit card)
Total amount of purchase
