The IRS categorizes baby formula as a general health expense rather than a medical necessity, making it not automatically eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement. If a healthcare provider determines that a specific formula is medically necessary due to a diagnosed medical condition—such as severe allergies, metabolic disorders, or malabsorption issues—it may qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement.

HSA/FSA accounts were created so individuals could use pre-tax money to pay for expenses used to treat, mitigate, or prevent a diagnosed medical condition. Because HSA/FSAs use pre-tax money, you’re getting more purchasing power for your dollars. Rather than pay taxes on income and then spend it on health items, qualified customers can use pre-tax funds to invest in their health.

An individual can contribute up to $4,150 pretax to their HSA per year, or $8,300 for a family (plus an additional $1,000 if you are at least 55 years old. Individuals can contribute up to $3,200 pretax to their FSA per year (with an additional $500 in employer contributions allowed).

Health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) are programs that allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare expenses. If you’re unsure whether or not you have an HSA or FSA account, please check with your employer or insurance company.

For most FSA/HSA administrators, your expenses will be approved within days when you submit your claim for reimbursement along with your receipt and a Letter of Medical Necessity. The exact timing will vary based on your administrator.

If you have already received a Letter of Medical Necessity for purchasing specific products from a merchant, you do not need to complete Truemed’s survey again so long as your Letter of Medical Necessity remains valid. Letters of Medical Necessity are typically valid for 12 months after they are first issued. You do still need to submit your receipts for reimbursement with your HSA/FSA administrator.

The items in your Truemed Letter of Medical Necessity (“LMN”) are now qualified medical expenses in the same way a visit to the doctor’s office or pharmaceutical product is.

There are thousands of studies showing food and exercise is often the best medicine to prevent and reverse disease. Exercise qualifies as a qualified medical expense with an LMN. Food, supplements, and other wellness purchases qualify as medical expenses if they treat or prevent an illness, and a doctor substantiates the need. Your Truemed LMN satisfies all IRS requirements to make your wellness spend fully reimbursable.

There is no cost to you, as long as you are shopping with a Truemed partner merchant.

Yes. You can still submit for partial reimbursement. For example: if you purchase an eligible item for $100 but only have $60 in your account, you can reimburse $60 of your purchase with your tax-free funds (with the remaining $40 paid for as normal).

Please contact us at support@truemed.com so we can help you troubleshoot the issue. HSA/FSA plan administrators often have detailed requirements, so it may be as simple as re-issuing your Letter of Medical Necessity using the administrator’s form.