💡 Quick Answer: Yes, dietary supplements are HSA eligible when used to prevent or treat medical conditions. The IRS recognizes nutritional supplements as qualified medical expenses under Publication 502 when recommended by a healthcare provider. You need a Letter of Medical Necessity, and Crates Health gets you approved in minutes.
The Hidden Cost Of Your Stack
Morning multivitamin. Vitamin D because you work indoors. Protein for recovery. Omega-3s because your doctor said your triglycerides are edging up. It is easy to clear 100 dollars per month. That is 1,200 dollars per year. Over five years, 6,000 dollars. With an LMN, you can make that spend pre-tax.
Why Your Supplements Are Actually Medicine
Deficiencies and shortfalls are common, which is exactly why supplementation shows up in clinical guidelines. The American Heart Association backs omega-3 intake for triglyceride management and cardiovascular risk, and the Endocrine Society advises targeted vitamin D supplementation in at-risk adults rather than routine screening for everyone.
Population research repeatedly shows suboptimal vitamin D status in a large share of U.S. adults, which is a clear prevention target when lifestyle or geography limits sun exposure.
What The IRS Actually Says
Publication 502 allows nutritional supplements when a licensed medical practitioner recommends them for treatment of a specific medical condition. The 2023 IRS FAQs further clarified how wellness spending becomes medical when tied to treatment and documented properly. That is the legal basis for HSA reimbursement with an LMN.
Which Supplements Qualify With An LMN
- Vitamin D for deficiency prevention in low sun exposure or bone health support.
- B-complex or B12 for documented deficiency risk or anemia prevention.
- Iron for iron deficiency anemia risk.
- Magnesium for inadequate intake that contributes to sleep, muscle, or cardiometabolic issues.
- Omega-3s for hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular risk management.
- Protein to prevent or reverse muscle loss during rehab or aging.
Your provider connects each product to your health needs and includes dosing, duration, and follow up.
The LMN That Gets Approved
- Specific condition or prevention goal, for example: preventing vitamin D deficiency due to low sun exposure, managing hypertriglyceridemia, or preventing muscle loss during PT.
- Product names and dosages that match your receipts.
- Duration, usually 12 months, then renew.
- Provider credentials and signature aligned to FSAFEDS LMN fields.
The Actual Math On Savings
Basic Vitamin Person
45 dollars per month equals 540 dollars per year.
Savings near 30 percent equals about 162 dollars per year.
Fitness Enthusiast
150 dollars per month equals 1,800 dollars per year.
Savings near 30 percent equals about 540 dollars per year.
Optimization Obsessed
300 dollars per month equals 3,600 dollars per year.
Savings near 30 percent equals about 1,080 dollars per year.
HSA Mechanics For 2025
HSA limits: 4,300 dollars self only and 8,550 dollars family, with a 1,000 dollar catch up for age 55 plus. Contributions and investment growth are tax advantaged, and funds roll over forever.
FAQs
Do I need a deficiency lab first? Not always. Many guidelines focus on risk based supplementation rather than universal testing. Your provider will decide whether labs are needed.
Will my plan push back? If your LMN ties each product and dose to a condition or prevention target, you are on solid ground. The IRS framework backs you up.
Bottom line: You already buy these. Make them medical with an LMN and keep the tax savings.
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