A deep dive into eligible expenses for women’s health

Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are tax-advantaged accounts that allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars to cover qualified medical expenses. For women, there are eligible expenses that can contribute to women’s health that you might not know about. 

Preventive care services

HSAs and FSAs cover a range of preventive care services for women’s health. These  include annual well-women exams, which include screenings for breast cancer, cervical cancer, and other reproductive health issues. Birth control pills, patches, and other contraceptive methods are eligible expenses, as are prescription contraceptives and sterilization procedures. 

Feminine hygiene eligible expense

Did you know that the average woman spends around $18,000 over her lifetime paying for feminine hygiene products? All types of feminine hygiene products are eligible for reimbursement with a FSA and HSA, including:

• Menstrual cups
• Tampons
• Midol
• Pads

Maternity care

Pregnancy-related expenses are generally eligible for reimbursement through HSAs and FSAs. The average cost of childbirth in the US is $18,865, including delivery and postpartum care. Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, there are many eligible expenses to help with it all. 

Pregnancy preparation products can be big expenses, but an HSA and FSA cover female hormone tests, fertility trackers, ovulation monitors, pregnancy tests, and more. Pregnancy-related expenses that are also covered by HSAs and FSAs include:

• Ultrasounds
• Prenatal vitamins
• Breast pumps and supplies
• Birth classes
• Part of your childbirth expenses

For women who are dealing with infertility, certain treatments and services may be eligible expenses such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility preservation. 

Mental health

Research has shown that 1 in 5 women in the US has a mental health problem. Prioritizing mental health can be hard on a budget, but an HSA/FSA can help with that. There are plenty of eligible expenses that can help you prioritize women’s mental health.

Annual physicals

Your doctor can diagnose an underlying condition that contributes to your mental health. A HSA/FSA can help cover the costs of these visits.

Seeing a therapist or psychiatrist

This is an essential form of treatment for many types of mental health conditions. Because health insurance doesn’t always cover these costs, using a HSA or FSA can help the difference in cost. 

Medication

On the visits alone, a psychiatrist can usually run from $250 to $300 a visit. If prescribed medication by a psychiatrist, it is generally eligible for reimbursement to help lower the cost even more. Many over-the-counter medications can also be paid for with an HSA or FSA. 

The information in this blog post is for educational purposes only. It is not legal or tax advice. For legal or tax advice, you should consult your own legal counsel, tax and investment advisers. 

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