How to use HSA & FSA benefits

An HSA is a type of account funded with pre-tax contributions that’s available with an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan and if other IRS requirements are met. With an HSA, the account isn’t tied to your employer, so you may be able to get one even if you are self-employed or work for a company that doesn’t offer an HSA. You can also keep the money in your HSA indefinitely because it rolls over to the next year. Yearly HSA contributions as of 2026 are limited to $4,400 for individuals and $8,750 for families. People over age 55 can take advantage of an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution.

With an FSA, you can choose to contribute money directly from your paycheck before taxes are taken out so you can use tax-free money on qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses. An FSA is only available through an employer. Eligible expenses are determined by the plan administrator and may include deductibles, copays and over-the-counter (OTC) medication and products. Money left in the account at the end of the year typically doesn’t roll over and is lost. The limit for FSA contributions in 2026 is $3,400.

Money in an HSA rolls over and remains available for use. Money remaining in an FSA is returned to your employer at the end of the year. You also lose any FSA funds accrued in your account if you leave your job.

In most cases, you can have either an HSA or an FSA but not both simultaneously. IRS rules prohibit you from having both, with some limited exceptions. One exception occurs when an employer offers a limited-purpose FSA tied to specific uses, such as vision and dental care. You can have this type of limited-purpose FSA along with a separate HSA.

For HSA: Use your bank or administrator’s portal. For FSA: Access your plan administrator’s site or app. Most HSA & FSA administrators offer apps where you can view balances, transactions and submit claims.

As part of the Healthcare Reform Bill, HR 3590, effective January 15, certain OTC FSA-eligible items are no longer eligible to be paid with an FSA debit card. These items now require a cash register receipt and a hard copy prescription from your prescriber to be submitted for reimbursement.

In most cases you can:

1. Contact your health care provider for a hard copy prescription for the required OTC medication.
2. Purchase your OTC medication and obtain a cash register receipt.
3. Submit the cash register receipt and hard copy prescription to your benefits administrator for reimbursement.

NOTE: Only your FSA administrator can provide you with the exact guidelines for reimbursement relative to your plan. Contact your FSA Administrator to learn more about the new reimbursement process and what you are required to do

To receive a report of the FSA-eligible purchases you’ve made with your ExtraCare® card — both in store and online — call our toll-free number 1-800-SHOP-CVS, and then press ext. 2 to speak with an ExtraCare representative. You can use the report to validate any health-related purchases that may be tax deductible.* And to substantiate any FSA-eligible purchases made with your ExtraCare card going back 14 months. Additionally, the report could be used to help you estimate your future FSA withholdings.

You can request to have your report sent by U.S. mail, or by email. This is a free service. It’s just one of the many benefits of shopping at CVS Pharmacy® with your ExtraCare card.

In 2020, the CARES Act eliminated the requirement that OTC medication needed a prescription to qualify as an HSA or FSA purchase. Now, you can use your account to buy eligible OTC medications and products, including:

• Pain relievers
• Allergy medication
• Cold and flu medicine
• Antacids and laxatives
• Acne medication
• Menstrual care products
• Broad-spectrum sunscreens
• Diagnostic tests
• Contraceptives
• Bandages
• First aid supplies

Some items may be eligible if you have a letter of medical necessity from your health care provider. These may include weight loss programs, supplements and home accessibility aids.

Shop OTC medication and products

Yes! MinuteClinic accepts both HSA & FSA for eligible expenses. You can use your HSA or FSA card to pay for in-person visits or telehealth appointments.

Visit the MinuteClinic HSA & FSA page for more info

No, SNAP EBT benefits and HSA & FSA funds are separate programs with different rules.

• SNAP EBT can only be used for qualifying food items as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) — not for OTC health products or medical supplies.
• HSA & FSA funds are for IRS approved medical expenses (e.g., first aid, pain relief, allergy meds, feminine care, etc.). These items are not eligible for SNAP payment.

You can use the SNAP and HSA & FSA cards in the same checkout for eligible items, but each benefit applies only to its respective category (food for SNAP, health items for HSA & FSA).

SNAP EBT benefits at CVS can be found here