I am about to go on safaris in South Africa and Zambia and need to be vaccinated against a few diseases.
The IRS publication 502 doesn't mention vaccinations explicitly, but does state that
Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness.
So I'm assuming that is a "yes", however I'd like to know if anyone knows for sure or has already used an HSA for that purpose. Thanks.
Yes, copays and costs associated with vaccinations are qualified medical expenses under HSA guidelines. Receiving a vaccine is a service, not a prescription drug. You don't take the vaccine home with you.
You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for prescribed medicines and drugs. A prescribed drug is one that requires a prescription by a doctor for its use by an individual.
Additionally, the ACA mandated that certain preventive care services be made available at zero cost. Here's a list of the ACA Mandated preventive care benefits related to immunization:
- Immunization vaccines
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes Zoster
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Influenza (flu shot)
- Measles
- Meningococcal
- Mumps
- Pertussis
- Pneumococcal
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
Carriers are free to add to this list, but these are the minimums required. The rest of the list can be seen here.
When you make your appointment, be clear that you're making a preventive care appointment for XYZ.
I've seen some conflicting information on this, but here is my understanding.
Vaccinations are considered medicines by the IRS. Here is what IRS Pub 501 has to say about medicines:
Medicines
You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for prescribed medicines and drugs. A prescribed drug is one that requires a prescription by a doctor for its use by an individual. You can also include amounts you pay for insulin. Except for insulin, you can't include in medical expenses amounts you pay for a drug that isn't prescribed.
In order for medicines to be deductible (and eligible for HSA medical expenses), it needs to be prescribed by a doctor. If you are getting the vaccination from your doctor's office, it should be eligible for the HSA. If you are walking into the pharmacy without a prescription and getting a vaccination (as is commonly done for a flu shot, for example), it is not eligible for the HSA.
