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Suppose I buy some prescription eyeglasses from an online site. Then suppose after I get them I decide I don't like them, and I return them. In such a case, the seller may charge me some fee (e.g., a "restocking fee"), so that I am not refunded the entire amount.

If I had kept the glasses, I could have reimbursed myself from an HSA. Since I didn't keep them, can I still reimburse myself for the fees I incurred? Is "buying eyeglasses and trying them out but then returning them" a qualified medical expense for an HSA, even if I don't wind up with the actual glasses?

I'm asking about eyeglasses, but one could imagine the same sort of question applying to other types of devices (e.g., insulin pumps, orthotics, etc.) that could plausible be purchased and returned for various reasons. I'm curious to know how the question would apply more generally.

BrenBarn
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Costs associated with correcting a problem with your glasses or with other legitimate HSA qualified expenses can be expected; getting health-related things aligned with your needs can be and is often a non-linear process.

Given that the person exchanging a health-related good does not receive any financial benefit from the exchange, I would say if you keep your HSA "books" with legitimate debits and credits, you would not have any problem should anyone wish to examine that level of detail.

Dale
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