Yes, airfare for medical treatments may be eligible for reimbursement with a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), but only if the travel is primarily for and essential to receiving necessary medical care.
Why Is Airfare for Medical Treatments FSA/HSA Eligible?
According to IRS Publication 502, transportation expenses—including airfare—can qualify as medical expenses if the travel is required to receive medical care that is not available locally.
The travel must be:
Primarily for medical care
To a hospital, clinic, or provider’s office
For a condition that cannot be treated locally
Not combined with vacation or personal travel
Eligible airfare expenses may include travel for the patient and, in some cases, for a companion if the patient is a minor or requires assistance to travel due to a medical condition.
What’s Not Covered?
Airfare is not eligible if:
The travel is primarily for personal or vacation purposes, even if medical care is received
The treatment is available locally
There is no documentation from a healthcare provider verifying medical necessity
The flight is first-class, upgraded, or bundled with non-medical travel amenities
The accompanying traveler is not required for medical support
Only coach fare is eligible, and only for dates directly related to receiving care.
How to Use Your FSA or HSA for Medical Airfare
Because airfare typically cannot be paid for directly with your FSA or HSA card, you’ll need to follow a manual reimbursement process:
Get a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your healthcare provider stating that the treatment and travel are medically required.
Save your receipts for all airfare charges.
Submit a claim to your FSA/HSA administrator, including your LMN and travel documentation.
If a companion’s travel is being reimbursed, provide documentation explaining why their presence was medically necessary (e.g., the patient is a minor or has a disability that prevents them from traveling alone).
For more details on qualifying medical travel, see IRS Publication 502.
