One year when we had to use up our flexible spending account, I was so surprised to learn that sunscreen was one of the FSA eligible items we could spend that money on to buy.
What does FSA stand for? Flexible Spending Account.
A flexible spending account is something your employer sets up for you, to put aside pretax dollars to cover medical and health care costs. This includes things like prescriptions.
On the other hand, a Health Savings Account or HSA is more like an investment account that earns interest and can be used to pay for insurance premiums. It’s a lot more complicated and less straightforward than the Flexible Spending Account.
However, I’ve discovered that when searching for what they can buy using the FSA, most people will often use the term HSA, even though they mean FSA.
Therefore, I may use them interchangeably in this article about surprising things you can buy with an HSA or what items are eligible for FSA/HSA spending. Hope that makes sense.
List of FSA eligible items you can buy
In addition to offering a list of surprising FSA eligible items, I’m also going to share some surprising categories and places where you can shop using an FSA card.
For example, did you know you can use your FSA card on Amazon or at CVS? Even certain things at Costco are FSA eligible.
So, what can you buy with FSA? Read on for my comprehensive list. I wonder if you’ll discover surprising things that qualify like that aforementioned sunscreen that I was shocked to learn did qualify for FSA spending.
Eligible items on Amazon FSA store
The things you can buy on Amazon just continue to amaze me. First, there are all of the SNAP EBT eligible products that Amazon sells.
Now I get to delve into the Amazon FSA store.
Interestingly, at this link for the Amazon FSA store, it is listed as the FSA/HSA Store. See? I’m not wrong about people using these acronyms interchangeably.
Anyway, on Amazon, there are three sections worth noting.
List of eligible items on Amazon
One, a list of FSA and HSA eligible items on Amazon. Literally, it is an alphabetical list of qualified items.
These range from acupressure products to wart removers. There are hundreds of eligible items you can buy on Amazon.
How to shop on Amazon using FSA card
Two, what Amazon calls the “learning center.” That page on Amazon explains how you can or cannot pay for Amazon items with an FSA card.
For example, it includes this tip:
“Eligible items will display an “FSA or HSA eligible” badge on the search results page or the product detail page. You can also filter search results for only FSA/HSA eligible items by selecting the “FSA or HSA eligible” from the filter options.”
Amazon FSA Store
And, three, information on how to add your HSA or FSA card to your Amazon account.
FSA eligible baby items
One of the ways that an FSA or HSA account can help new parents is stocking up on supplies for their baby.
For example, on the Amazon FSA store, here are the baby-related things you can buy using that card:
- Baby thermometer
- Bottles and accessories
- Breast pumps
- Nursing accessories
- Pedialyte
In addition, your FSA card can pay for other baby necessities, such as OTC pain medication, diaper rash cream and some diapers. Baby-safe sunscreen and lip balm qualify, too.
Plus, you can use your card to purchase these baby items at nationwide pharmacy stores like CVS and Walgreens.
Even Target has an FSA eligible store on its website.
Surprising FSA products
So, what are some of the surprising things that end up being HSA or FSA eligible? Here’s a brief list:
- Compression socks
- Contact lenses
- Contraceptive items
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Dry eye treatment
- Eyeglasses
- Lice treatment
- Light therapy
- Lip balm
- Sexual health products
- Vitamins
Even some handheld massage tools, similar to my Hyperice Hypervolt GO massage gun, qualify for FSA or HSA spending.
Same thing with foam rollers. In fact, I found a foam roller on the Amazon FSA store that vibrates and heats up.
FSA Eligible at Costco
You’ll find plenty of FSA-eligible items at Costco–some surprising, such as the Kegelbell pelvic floor training device that I’ve reviewed.
You know what else qualifies? COVID tests. Plus, lots of OTC medication for everything from allergies to indigestion.
Costco Membership Deal
Join Costco today and enroll in auto renewal to get a Costco Shop Card!
- Join as a new Executive Member and enroll in auto renewal to receive a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card
- Or, join as a new Gold Star Member and enroll in auto renewal to receive a $10 Digital Costco Shop Card
Terms and Conditions
- Valid for NEW MEMBERS ONLY or for members whose memberships have been expired for more than 18 months.
- *To receive a Digital Costco Shop Card, you must provide a valid email address and set up auto-renewal of your Costco membership on a Visa® card at the time of sign-up.
- If you elect not to provide a valid email address and sign up for auto-renewal, a Digital Costco Shop Card will not be emailed.
- Valid only for nonmembers for their first year of membership. Not valid for renewal or upgrade of an existing membership.
- To qualify as a new member, a Costco membership must be expired at least 18 months or more.
- Limit one promotion/incentive per household.
- Promotion is non-transferable and may not be combined with any other promotion.
- Digital Costco Shop Card is not redeemable for cash, except as required by law.
- New members will receive their Digital Costco Shop Card by email within 2 weeks of sign-up.
- Costco is not liable for incentives not received due to entry of an invalid address during sign-up.
- Digital Costco Shop Cards are not accepted at Gas Stations, Car Washes or Food Court Kiosk.
- Use the provided single-use Promo Code when entering your payment information.
- A Costco membership is $60 a year.
- An Executive Membership is an additional $60 upgrade fee a year.
- Each membership includes one free Household Card.
- May be subject to sales tax.
- Costco accepts all Visa cards, as well as cash, checks, debit/ATM cards, EBT and Costco Shop Cards.
- Departments and product selection may vary.
Final thoughts on FSA eligible items
For a deeper dive on flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts, this page on the NIH website explains HSA vs FSA.
If you have other questions on shopping with FSA or HSA benefits, please let me know.