NutraTalk Blog

Using a Health Savings Account to Pay for Micronutrients

Posted on : October 23, 2023 by Hardy Nutritionals® No Comments

If you have a Health Savings Account as part of your insurance plan, you may be able to get some or all of the cost of your micronutrients covered. Increasingly, more people have been able to get their insurance to cover micronutrients, including Hardy's clinical strength broad-spectrum formula, Daily Essential Nutrients.

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Using a Health Savings Account (HSA) to get reimbursed for supplements is a process. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Confirm Eligibility: Ensure that you are eligible for a HSA. This usually means you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and are not covered by other non-HDHP health insurance.

2. Purchase Eligible Supplements: Buy supplements that are considered eligible for HSA reimbursement. To be eligible, the supplements should be for medical purposes, such as treating a specific medical condition or prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner.

3. Keep Records: Keep detailed records of your supplement purchases, including receipts, invoices, and prescriptions, if applicable. It's essential to have documentation to prove the medical necessity.

4. Pay with HSA Funds: Use your HSA debit card or pay for the supplements out of pocket and then reimburse yourself from the HSA. Be sure to keep receipts and documentation for each transaction.

5. Submit a Claim: Check with your HSA provider for the specific process to submit a claim for reimbursement. This might involve completing a reimbursement request form and providing supporting documentation.

6. Receive Reimbursement: Once your claim is approved, you will receive reimbursement from your HSA. The reimbursement should be used for qualified medical expenses, including the supplements.

It's important to note that not all supplements are eligible for HSA reimbursement. Generally, only supplements prescribed by a healthcare provider for a specific medical condition will qualify. Always consult with your HSA provider or a tax professional to understand the specific rules and regulations that apply to your situation, as they can vary. Additionally, tax laws and regulations can change, so it's a good idea to stay up to date with the latest guidance from the IRS or relevant authorities.

Many Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) have specific language that covers vitamins and minerals when they are recommended or prescribed by a physician for a specific medical diagnosis.

If you have an HSA plan or if your insurance plan includes coverage for holistic, natural, or alternative treatments (including supplements) for specific medical diagnoses, you may be able to get a letter from your doctor showing that you have a medical need that you can send to your insurance company to try and get coverage or reimbursement.

You may also be able to deduct the cost of micronutrients from your annual taxes, according to the IRS:

Vitamins and supplements: If the nutritional supplements are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a doctor, then they may be qualified. The IRS provides that:

“You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, ‘natural medicines,’ etc. unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician. Otherwise, these items are taken to maintain your ordinary good health and are not for medical care.”

Certain insurance companies also have provisions for natural, alternative, or holistic treatments when they are recommended or prescribed by a physician.

If your healthcare practitioner is unable to recommend micronutrients, you may consider referring them to our Health Professional Training or working with a healthcare provider already trained in the use of clinical micronutrients.  To find a clinician near you, visit the Hardy Nutritionals® Health Professional Locator.

Hardy Nutritionals® multivitamin-mineral products are powered by our proprietary NutraTek™ mineral delivery technology, which combines each mineral with specialized organic molecules—just like nature—to optimize absorption and distribution to body cells. Our flagship supplement, Daily Essential Nutrients, is widely considered to be the most research-backed micronutrient treatment.
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