Out-of-Pocket Price Index for Everyday Health Items

Most people expect healthcare costs to show up as doctor visits, procedures, or prescriptions. In reality, everyday health purchases often add up first. Allergy medicine here, menstrual products there … these smaller items can quietly chip away at your budget long before any major medical bill arrives.

At the same time, prices can vary widely depending on brand, retailer, and season. Eligibility adds another layer of confusion. Some purchases are clearly HSA-eligible, while others depend on medical necessity or supporting documentation from an independent health care provider. Without a baseline, it’s hard to know what a “normal” price actually looks like.

That’s where this index comes in. Think of it as a reality check for everyday health spending. It groups common purchases into a consistent “basket,” shows realistic price ranges, and explains how HSA eligibility typically works across categories. That way, you can budget more confidently and understand when HSA or FSA funds may be relevant.

Note: This guide does not provide medical or tax advice, and final eligibility and reimbursement decisions always depend on your plan administrator and applicable IRS guidance.

Before we get into prices, let’s quickly define what this index is actually measuring.

First, out-of-pocket simply means what you pay at checkout, no insurance involved. And everyday health items are the products people buy on the regular to treat minor symptoms, stay prepared at home, or manage common needs.

But prices vary widely. So to make pricing easier to compare, this index uses a “basket” approach. In simple terms, that means we track a consistent set of common items across categories—similar to how economists measure everyday costs like groceries.

It’s also helpful to clarify what this index doesn’t cover. The basket focuses on retail health products people typically buy themselves, meaning it doesn’t include:

• Doctor visits or procedures
• Services billed through insurance
• Most prescription medications
• Highly specialized medical equipment

Health product prices can vary a lot depending on brand, store, and package size. To keep comparisons useful, this index follows a few simple rules:

• Use common sizes and forms: We focus on the versions people typically buy (like a standard bottle of pain relievers or a basic digital thermometer).
• Compare prices by unit when possible: That might mean price per pill, ounce, test strip, or item. Unit pricing helps make fair comparisons when packages come in different sizes.
• Look at multiple brands: We include a mix of store-brand, mid-range, and name-brand options to reflect the range you actually see in stores and online.
• Focus on the middle of the price range: Instead of highlighting the absolute cheapest or most expensive option, the index reflects the prices you’re most likely to encounter.
• Account for seasonal swings: Some categories change price throughout the year. Cold and flu products tend to rise in winter, allergy medications during spring and fall, and sunscreen during summer.

The payoff? You get a realistic snapshot of the price range to expect when buying everyday health items.

When people search for what you can buy with HSA funds, they’re usually hoping for a simple yes-or-no list. In reality, eligibility comes down to one core idea: The primary purpose of the purchase must be medical care for a personal medical condition

According to the IRS, qualified medical expenses that HSA funds can be used for generally include products or services intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent, or manage a medical condition. Many everyday pharmacy items fall into this category.

“A lot of people don’t realize how many basic over-the-counter items qualify,” says William Capece, CFP, SHRM-CP, CCWS, a certified financial planner and director of business development at JS Benefits Group. “These aren’t exotic purchases; they’re things families buy every month anyway.”

HSA eligibility tends to fall into three buckets:

• Often eligible: Items whose primary purpose is medical care. Many OTC medications, first-aid supplies, diagnostic tests, and menstrual products fall here.
• May be eligible: Some products can qualify when they’re used to treat a diagnosed condition. In these cases, documentation—such as a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from a licensed healthcare provider—may be required for qualified customers.
• Ineligible: General health products like cosmetic skincare that do not universally help treat or prevent disease typically don’t qualify.

Many of the items people buy regularly at pharmacies fall into the category of products that are often HSA-eligible. These are items whose primary purpose is medical care: treating symptoms, preventing illness, or monitoring health at home.

Common categories in this basket include:

• First aid supplies: Supplies for minor injuries and wound care, like adhesive bandages, gauze pads, medical tape, elastic wraps, antiseptic wipes, and antibiotic ointments.
• Over-the-counter symptom relief: Medications for common issues like headaches, allergies, colds and flu, cough, or heartburn.
• Diagnostic and monitoring tools: Products that help people check or track health at home, such as thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and pregnancy tests.
• Prevention and hygiene items: Products that help reduce illness exposure or maintain sanitation, including hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and certain protective equipment.
• Menstrual care products: Tampons, pads, liners, and menstrual cups—items added to the list of commonly eligible expenses under the 2020 CARES Act.

The table below shows a snapshot of typical out-of-pocket prices for several common items across these categories. Prices reflect common retail ranges across pharmacies and major online retailers and may vary by brand, location, and season.

Some health products sit in a gray area when it comes to HSA eligibility. These are items that can qualify as medical expenses in certain situations, but eligibility often depends on why the product is being used.

In many cases, these purchases may be eligible when they’re used to treat or manage a diagnosed condition and supported by documentation such as an LMN. According to Capece, the key factor is medical intent.

“Botox is a good example,” he says. “Most people think cosmetic procedure, and that’s not eligible. But if a physician prescribes Botox to treat something like chronic migraines, it can qualify. Same product, different intent.”

This same idea applies to several categories of everyday health products, including:

• Skin and sun products: Some sunscreens (typically SPF 15 or higher) are commonly HSA-eligible, while other skincare products may only qualify if they’re used to treat or prevent a person’s medical condition such as severe acne, eczema, or rosacea.
• Vitamins and supplements: Products marketed for general wellness usually don’t qualify. However, certain supplements may be eligible when they are recommended by a healthcare provider to address a diagnosed deficiency or medical condition.
• Compression and recovery items: Products like compression socks, braces, or certain recovery tools may qualify when used to treat circulation issues, injuries, or other medical needs.
• Dual-purpose products: Some products serve both convenience and medical functions, like blue-light glasses for computer use or air purifiers. Eligibility often depends on whether the purchase is primarily intended for medical care rather than just a lifestyle product.

The table below shows typical price ranges for several items in this “it depends” category. Eligibility may vary based on product type, documentation, and individual health needs.

Because these items sit in the middle ground, documentation becomes especially important.

“If something is being used to treat or manage a diagnosed condition—and you can document that—it may qualify,” Capece said. “I always tell people: Keep the paperwork. It’s much easier to defend a reimbursement when you’ve saved the documentation upfront.”

Some purchases feel like they should automatically qualify for HSA spending because they support health or wellness. But under IRS rules, the distinction usually comes down to medical care versus general lifestyle improvement.

HSAs are designed to cover expenses tied to diagnosing, treating, or preventing a medical condition. Products that fall into the “general wellness” category typically don’t qualify without an LMN—even if they support overall health, according to Capece.

Instead, the IRS draws a clear line between medical care and lifestyle spending, he says. Several common categories tend to fall into this not-eligible bucket, including:

• Cosmetic-only products: Items intended primarily for appearance, such as cosmetic skincare, anti-aging products, or beauty treatments.
• General hygiene and toiletries: Everyday personal care items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and soap.
• Convenience products: Items designed to make life easier rather than treat a medical condition.

The table below shows examples of common purchases in this category and their typical out-of-pocket price ranges.

The exceptions, of course, are if the product or service above has been prescribed by a healthcare provider to prevent or treat a diagnosed medical condition—and documented appropriately with an LMN.

Seeing typical price ranges is useful, but the real benefit is using them to plan everyday health spending.

A few simple habits can help stretch your budget:

• Create a small “health drawer” budget: Many households regularly restock items like pain relievers, bandages, allergy medication, and menstrual products. Using the index as a baseline can help you estimate what those routine purchases cost each month.
• Factor these costs into your HSA planning: Everyday purchases like OTC medications and first-aid supplies often qualify as medical expenses. Including them in your annual HSA contribution target can help cover those recurring costs.
• Compare unit prices: Store-brand products often contain the same active ingredients as name brands at a lower cost. Looking at price per pill, ounce, or item can make comparisons easier.
• Stock up strategically: Seasonal items—like cold and flu medicine, allergy products, or sunscreen—often go on sale during off-peak months.
• Avoid overbuying: Some items expire or lose effectiveness over time, so larger packages aren’t always the best value. For example, medications and at-home test kits have expiration dates, which means bulk purchases can go to waste if they sit unused.
• Check your benefits plan for OTC allowances: Some employer-sponsored health plans include quarterly allowances for over-the-counter products, which many people don’t realize they have access to, says Capece.

For some everyday health purchases, qualified customers may be able to use HSA funds when the product is intended to address a medical need. Truemed can guide you through the process. Here’s how it works:

• Complete a health intake form.
• An independent licensed practitioner reviews your information and may issue an LMN when appropriate.
• If approved, you can use your HSA/FSA card at checkout or save your receipt and submit for reimbursement, depending on your plan’s process.

As with all HSA and FSA-eligible purchases, final reimbursement decisions are made by your plan administrator, and rules can vary by plan.

When using HSA or FSA funds, documentation matters. Even when an item is commonly included on an HSA-eligible items list, you may still need to show that the purchase qualifies under your plan’s rules.

A few simple habits can make this process easier:

• Keep itemized receipts: Your receipt should include the product name, purchase date, retailer, and amount paid.
• Save supporting documentation: If a purchase requires additional justification (like an LMN), keep that document along with your receipt.
• Separate mixed purchases when possible: Buying eligible and non-eligible items in the same transaction can make reimbursement harder to document. Making separate purchases can simplify the process.
• Check your plan’s rules: Eligibility guidelines can vary slightly depending on your HSA or FSA administrator, so it’s always helpful to confirm how your plan handles certain purchases.