Know which account you have.
A health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending arrangement (FSA) lets you save money before tax for qualifying medical costs in September 2026.
As of September 2026, medicines prescribed to treat a condition a doctor has diagnosed can generally qualify for account payment.
Under the tax rules as of September 2026, spending solely for better general health is not a medical cost.
IRS means the Internal Revenue Service, the US tax agency. Its rules look at why the money is spent, as of September 2026.
The account administrator is the person or organization that manages its claims. Ask about each charge, using the medicine name and documented medical reason.
Ask what paperwork is needed.
A letter of medical necessity is a health professional’s written explanation of why an expense has a medical purpose.
As of September 2026, the person managing your account may ask for this letter. The IRS does not require everyone to have a letter with that title.
For an FSA, the IRS requires the expense to be verified with its description, date, and amount, as of September 2026.
Ask which records to keep. Ask what must be provided before reimbursement, which means the account paying you back.
Ask separate questions about care and payment.
A possible account payment is not the answer to which care is appropriate for you. Ask the health professional about the medical use. Ask the administrator about the expense.
Get the payment answer before committing funds. Keep receipts that list each charge with the quote.