Are Compression Socks FSA/HSA Eligible?

Are compression socks FAS eligible or not? This is a common concern for many users who want to take advantage of the therapeutic benefits of their compression socks, which are covered by health care expenses. It’s great to spend your FSA or HSA funds wisely for medical expenses and get better compression therapy at home. Let’s understand compression socks and their health benefits and eligibility for getting them under the FSA or HSA health care plan.

Compression Socks and Health

Compression socks turn out to be a great relief for individuals suffering from venous disorders like varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), etc., in their lower legs and feet due to the damaged veins and poor circulation of blood back to the heart. In this health condition, an individual feels swelling in the legs or ankles, aching or a feeling of heaviness in the legs, pain, swelling, or inflammation in a leg or along a vein, leg sores that take time to heal, fatigue, and similar symptoms.

Outside the medications, the venous disorders treatment has an alternative with compression socks. Compression socks are effective therapeutic benefits for such venous insufficiency for individuals who are on their feet for long hours or who experience long hours of inactivity (standing or sitting). They are designed to increase blood flow and circulation in our lower legs to get relief from discomfort and energize and invigorate our legs.

The compression socks work on a concept to form a tighter fit around the lower legs and feet to improve circulation and lymphatic flow, helping to improve the condition and relieve pain, swelling, and other discomfort after being on their feet throughout the day. Commonly, the healthcare provider, expert, or doctor officially prescribes the compression socks based on your health condition and required compression that may be covered under insurance or under Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). They are HSA compression socks or FSA-eligible compression socks under these saving accounts. If you buy over-the-counter (OTC) compression socks, then they won’t be covered under any insurance plan.

 What are the FSAs and HSAs?

According to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services - Washington, D.C., United States, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are medical coverage saving accounts and healthcare benefits for individuals to overcome medical expenses with flexibility and discretion.  

• FSA or Flexible Spending Account

FSA or Flexible Spending Account is an employee benefit through an employer that permits an employee to set aside money, on a pre-tax basis, for specific health care and dependent care expenses. An individual can decide how much to put in an FSA according to the limit set by their employer; on every pay date, an allotment is credited directly into the FSA account for out-of-pocket medical expenses. There is no tax on this amount; this FSA can be used for insurance copayments and deductibles, qualified prescription drugs, insulin, and other medical devices.

• HSA or Health Savings Account

HAS or Health Savings Account (HSA) is a type of investment account for members of a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) enrolled under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. According to this program, the HDHP credits a portion of the premium amount into the individual’s HAS account. The member has the option to make pre-tax contributions to the account. The HSA funds can be used to pay for the plan deductible and/or qualified medical expenses that don’t count under the deductible.   

Compression Socks and FSA and HAS Criterion

Are my compression socks FSA-eligible or not?

Can I use my HAS funds for compression socks?

My compression socks are HSA-approved; I need to check.  

Usually, this is a common concern, so here we have the right piece of information for you. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the U. S. Government as published in their letter INFO 2009-0209, “The excess cost for specially designed clothing that is used to treat a specific disease, such as diabetic socks, compression hose, or orthopedic shoes, over regular clothing, may qualify as an expense for medical care.” The compression socks of compression level 30-40 mmHg or above are eligible for the flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Further, compression socks are approved and covered under FSA when a doctor recommends them. Similarly, one can buy compression socks with HSA funds as prescribed by a medical practitioner or doctor. FSA or HSA-approved and eligible compression socks are prescribed to treat certain medical conditions like venous disorders, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), chronic venous insufficiency, swelling, etc., or therapeutic uses but not for preventative reasons or athletic performance.

Things to Consider while Purchasing Compression Socks under FSA or HSA

The compression socks for therapeutic benefits or to treat certain medical conditions are eligible for reimbursement if recommended and prescribed by a medical practitioner or doctor. Here, we have a quick guide for purchasing compression socks under these medical accounts.  

• Get a Prescription

First, talk and discuss with your medical practitioner or doctor whether you need compression socks for treatment or therapeutic uses or not. If yes, then get an official prescription with exact compression level details.

• Find and Pick an Eligible Retailer

After getting the prescription, you need to search for an online or physical store that is eligible to sell FSA compression socks or HSA-approved compression socks.

• Pay with Your FSA/HSA Card/Debit Card

When you purchase compression socks, pay with your own account card. In case you pay cash or debit card, then keep the receipt to claim it for reimbursement.

• Submit a Claim (If needed)

If you paid in cash or debit card, then submit your claim with the respective receipt, prescription, and other details over email or digitally after consulting with your FSA or HSA administrator or insurance agent.   

 Final Thoughts

Compression socks are excellent compression hosiery for individuals struggling with venous disorders, varicose veins, swelling, pain, fatigue, and other discomfort in their lower legs due to poor circulation. It’s helpful to understand the eligibility criteria and approval for compression socks to maximize healthcare savings and utilize funds efficiently. One can use the above information before buying FSA-eligible compression socks, or HSA-approved compression socks for medical treatment and therapeutic benefits. However, it is recommended to discuss with your medical practitioner, doctor, insurance company, and FSA-HSA administrator for updated information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q 1. Can I Use My FSA to BUY Compression Socks?

Yes, you can use FSA to buy compression socks, but you need a medical practitioner's prescription to get medically graded compression socks from an eligible FSA store or online store.  

 Q 2. Is HSA accepted for purchasing Compression Socks of a healthy individual for preventive purposes?

Compression socks purchased for preventive needs, such as blood clots during travel, can be considered HSA-eligible compression socks. However, check with your HSA administrator.

Q 3. Can I Purchase Compression Socks from an Online Store with FSA/HSA?

Yes, most online stores willingly accept payment through FSA and HSA accounts for eligible products only. To ensure that the socks obtained are eligible for FSA, one should search for a special section with FSA-approved compression socks.