Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are tax-free accounts that can be used to pay for qualified health expenses. These accounts are usually set up and managed by an HSA or FSA administrator, and you should have access to said HSA/FSA administrator through your employer (ask your HR department!).HSAs are typically associated with a high-deductible health plan, and funds do not expire. FSAs are independent of your health plan, and funds elections occur in October-November each year for the following calendar year. FSA funds expire every calendar year. HSAs and FSAs are not available outside of the US, and self-employed individuals (who do not have an HSA from a previous employment) do not qualify for HSAs or FSAs.

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 $3,850 pretax to their HSA per year, or $7,750 for a family (plus an additional $1,000 if you are at least 55 years old Individuals can contribute up to $3,050 pretax to their FSA per year (with an additional $500 in employer contributions allowed). Almost every qualified individual will save between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on their state and tax rate.

In order to determine whether certain products or services are legitimate expenses for treating, mitigating, or preventing a diagnosed medical condition, HSA/FSA plan administrators often require a letter from a licensed practitioner. This letter is called a “Letter of Medical Necessity.”

Yes! You can use your HSA/FSA card. Once you pay with your card and complete the survey, all you need to do is keep an eye out for the Letter of Medical Necessity that we will send you, and hold onto it for the next 3 years.

If you prefer to use your regular credit card, you are welcome to do that and we will send you instructions for how to submit for reimbursement from your administrator. Check out this article to get a comprehensive understanding of the reimbursement process. How long does it take for me to receive my Letter of Medical Necessity? Generally it takes 24-48 hours. If you aren’t seeing your letter in your inbox, check spam, then reach out to support@truemed.com for help!

If you do not qualify, you are able to reapply for HSA/FSA spending at a later date. Reach out to support@truemed.com if you have any questions.

You can occasionally request a split invoice from the merchant that you are making a purchase from, but like your normal bank account, you generally need to have the funds to cover the purchase to avoid a rejection.

Please contact team@truemed.com so TrueMed 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.

For most Americans, open enrollment is in the last four months of the year. Simply elect to increase contributions to your HSA or FSA during this time and you can begin shopping with Truemed merchant partners. Starting on January 1st, qualified individuals will be able to spend their entire HSA or FSA amount on products that a licensed practitioner recommends to treat, mitigate, or prevent a specific, diagnosed medical condition. These funds will be pulled from your paycheck, prior to tax withholding, by your HSA/FSA administrator in equal installments through the year.