Are Pregnancy Tests FSA Eligible?

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) offer a valuable way to pay for healthcare expenses with pre-tax dollars, reducing your taxable income. These employer-sponsored accounts allow individuals to set aside a portion of their salary, which can then be used for a wide range of qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. A common inquiry among those managing an FSA involves the eligibility of everyday health items, specifically concerning pregnancy tests.

Pregnancy Tests and FSA Eligibility

Pregnancy tests are eligible for reimbursement through a Flexible Spending Account. They qualify as medical expenses because they serve a diagnostic purpose, falling under the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines for medical care expenses. IRS Code Section 213(d) defines medical care to include amounts paid for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or for affecting any structure or function of the body, encompassing diagnostic devices and equipment.

These over-the-counter (OTC) items are listed as eligible in IRS Publication 502. A significant change resulting from the CARES Act of 2020 eliminated the requirement for a prescription for OTC medical products, including pregnancy tests, to be FSA eligible. This makes purchasing pregnancy tests with FSA funds straightforward, as no additional documentation from a healthcare provider is needed beyond proof of purchase.

Using Your FSA for Pregnancy Tests

Using your FSA to purchase pregnancy tests involves a few procedural steps, whether you use a dedicated FSA debit card or seek reimbursement for an out-of-pocket payment. Many FSA plans issue a debit card, which functions much like a regular debit card but is specifically for eligible medical expenses. You can swipe this card at approved merchants, such as pharmacies or grocery stores with healthcare sections, and the transaction may be automatically approved if the item is recognized as FSA eligible. If the card is declined, it might indicate the merchant does not support the necessary inventory information approval system, or the item’s eligibility needs verification.

Alternatively, you can pay for the pregnancy test using a personal credit card or cash and then submit a claim for reimbursement to your FSA administrator. For reimbursement, you will need an itemized receipt that clearly shows the product purchased, the date of purchase, the amount paid, and the merchant’s name. It is important to retain all receipts for FSA purchases, as your plan administrator or the IRS may request them for substantiation or audit purposes, even if you used an FSA debit card. Most claims are processed within a few business days, with reimbursement often provided via direct deposit.

Other FSA-Eligible Items for Pregnancy and Family Planning

Beyond pregnancy tests, other items related to pregnancy and family planning are FSA-eligible. These include:

• Ovulation predictor kits
• Fertility monitors
• Prenatal vitamins
• Breast pumps and associated accessories

While many items are broadly eligible, it is always advisable to consult with your specific FSA plan administrator for a definitive list of covered items. Plan eligibility can sometimes vary, and confirming with your administrator ensures you maximize the benefits of your FSA.