Can I Buy a Humidifier with My HSA Card?

You may be able to buy a humidifier with your health savings account (HSA) card if a licensed healthcare provider issues a letter of medical necessity (LMN).

The IRS provides some general guidelines for what constitutes a qualifying medical expense. These include dental and vision expenses, medical expenses (deductibles, copays, medications, etc.), family planning (e.g., contraception, fertility treatments, etc.), and medical travel (accessing necessary care in another state or at a specialty hospital, for example).

Are humidifiers HSA eligible? The IRS classifies humidifiers as “dual-purpose” items because they are used for general comfort and to treat specific medical conditions. A humidifier may be HSA eligible if you have the right documentation (see below) showing that the product is necessary to treat, mitigate, or prevent complications of a diagnosed medical condition.

Just because you have one of these conditions, however, does not mean that a humidifier automatically qualifies as an eligible expense.

Condition examples:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• Chronic sinus issues or sinusitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Eczema
• Epistaxis (chronic nose bleeds)
• Psoriasis
• Recovery after sinus surgery
• Sleep apnea ( to address dryness from CPAP treatment)
• Xerosis (chronic dry skin)

A humidifier may or may not qualify for HSA use, depending on various circumstances.

Usually not eligible if . . .

• You’re using the humidifier to reduce discomfort from dry air but you don’t have a diagnosed medical condition.
• You have a preference to use a humidifier during specific seasons when the air is drier.
• You’re using the humidifier for better sleep quality in general.

May be eligible if . . .

• You have a diagnosed medical condition that requires a humidifier to manage it or prevent complications.
• You need a humidifier as part of a treatment plan or recovery from a procedure.
• You need the humidifier to ease symptoms of a diagnosed medical condition.

In most cases, to use your HSA dollars to pay (or get reimbursed) for a humidifier, you will need an LMN and some additional documentation.

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 your medical condition.

What’s included on an LMN?

• Necessity: An LMN must show that a product, service, or treatment is something you need for addressing your specific medical condition.
• Why: Your LMN must detail your symptoms and your medical history to help document why you need the product, service, or treatment.
• Details: Details help build credibility into your letter of medical necessity. So the more you can provide, the better. The licensed clinician writing your LMN may want to include:
• Your personal information
• Your specific diagnosis and the corresponding ICD-10 code
• How long you will need the product, service, or treatment
• How the condition affects you
• Your treatment history
• Your supporting medical records
• Research info
• Risks for you if you experience a denial

What else to keep

• Medical records related to your condition
• Payment records/receipts

The following common scenarios illustrate when your HSA dollars may or may not be used to buy a humidifier.

If you’re curious about potentially HSA-eligible humidifiers from Truemed partners, here are three to consider.

• Canopy
• Carepod
• Blueair

You might be able to pay for your humidifier with your HSA or FSA dollars. A humidifier might be an eligible expense if you’re using it to address a specific medical condition. If approved by an independent licensed clinician, such conditions might include asthma, allergies, eczema, and more.

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.

Certain health products and services may be eligible for qualified customers with an LMN issued by an independent practitioner when the item is used to address a specific medical condition.

Truemed* specializes in helping you maximize your FSA or HSA benefits:

• 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 practitioner 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