Millions of Americans take vitamins and supplements to support their overall health and wellness. However, unlike medications and other health care costs, dietary supplements have not been eligible for purchase with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), an account that allows you to use pre-tax dollars to cover medical expenses. Interestingly, a recently introduced bipartisan bill known as The Dietary Supplements Act (H.R. 5214) would recognize dietary supplement purchases as qualified medical expenses, allowing them to be purchased using health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. The bill, sponsored by Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), reflects a growing body of scientific studies that reveal links between supplementation and a myriad of specific health benefits. At a time when consumers are increasingly health conscious and taking a more proactive approach to their health, this bill, if it passes, is a big step toward helping shift the focus to disease prevention rather than treatment and will allow consumers to take charge of their health, while saving them money at the same time. A win-win!
References:
(1) CRN Applauds Bipartisan Legislation Authorizing Dietary Supplement Purchases Using Pre-Tax Dollars. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/crn-applauds-bipartisan-legislation-authorizing-dietary-supplement-purchases-using-pre-tax
(2) Krawiec, S. (2021, September 20). Bipartisan legislation seeks to expand dietary supplement access through HSA and FSA coverage. Retrieved from https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/bipartisan-legislation-seeks-to-expand-dietary-supplement-access-through-hsa-and-fsa-coverage