Are Magnesium Supplements HSA/FSA Eligible?

This guide breaks down the ins and outs of magnesium HSA/FSA eligibility, the IRS rule that determines whether your purchase may qualify, and how to use Truemed to find out if you may be eligible for reimbursement.

Magnesium supplements are not automatically HSA/FSA eligible the way a prescription medication is. Under IRS Publication 502, supplements are generally treated as general wellness expenses unless they're recommended by a clinician to treat, mitigate, or prevent a specific diagnosed condition.

That's where a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) comes in: it's the document that certifies that a magnesium supplement purchase is not for general nutrition or health but rather serves as a substantiated medical expense.

Wondering about other supplements?
See our guide to Are Supplements HSA Eligible? to learn which supplements may qualify for HSA/FSA reimbursement and what documentation you may need.

The IRS generally only allows a medical expense deduction (and by extension, HSA/FSA reimbursement) for costs you would not have incurred "but for" a diagnosed medical condition. A magnesium supplement bought for general wellness fails this test.

The same supplement, recommended by an independent licensed practitioner to manage a documented condition like a diagnosed nutritional deficiency or perhaps a sleep disorder, can pass it because the purchase is now tied to treating that condition rather than everyday nutrition.

Conditions that may be cited in LMNs for magnesium supplementation include:

• Diagnosed magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia)
• Chronic migraine
• Muscle cramps or spasms
• Sleep disorders and sleep architecture conditions
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and related digestive conditions
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormonal conditions
• Diagnosed anxiety
• Hypertension

If an independent licensed clinician determines that magnesium supplementation is medically necessary for one of these conditions, your purchase may qualify for HSA/FSA spending.

As discussed previously, you might be able to purchase a magnesium supplement with your HSA or FSA dollars. Magnesium supplements might be eligible expenses for HSA or FSA holders if the product is used to address a specific medical condition and supported by the necessary documentation.

To purchase a magnesium supplement with your HSA or FSA, you might need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). An LMN is a formal document from a licensed healthcare provider that explains why a certain product, treatment, or service is necessary to treat, mitigate, or prevent a medical condition.

Truemed* specializes in helping you maximize your HSA and other health-related benefits (such as an FSA):

• First, you can check whether a product or service is normally considered a qualifying medical expense or whether you might need an LMN.
• Complete a health intake survey that will be reviewed by an independent licensed clinician.
• Buy the item; either pay directly with your HSA/FSA card at checkout, or pay with a regular credit/debit card and seek HSA/FSA reimbursement afterward.
• The independent licensed clinician will review your medical history, and if you qualify, will issue an LMN. Truemed itself does not make eligibility determinations.

Truemed also offers support in the event you get a denial of reimbursement and need to provide substantiation documentation.

*Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures