Answer: |
No, health club dues or amounts paid to improve one’s general health or to relieve physical or mental discomfort not related to a particular medical condition are not reimbursable medical expenses.
Distributions from a health FSA must be paid only to reimburse participants for qualified medical expenses incurred during the period of coverage. Qualified medical expenses include:
- acupuncture;
- alcohol addiction inpatient treatment;
- ambulance services;
- artificial limbs;
- artificial teeth;
- bandages;
- breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy due to cancer;
- birth control pills;
- Braille books and magazines;
- chiropractor fees;
- contact lenses, including the cost of equipment and materials;
- crutches;
- dental treatment (except teeth whitening);
- diagnostic devices, such as blood sugar test kits;
- drug addiction inpatient treatment;
- eye glasses;
- eye surgery;
- fertility enhancement procedures, such as in vitro fertilization;
- guide dogs;
- hearing aids;
- hospital services;
- laboratory fees;
- Medicare Part D premiums;
- medicines (prescription and nonprescription);
- nursing home care;
- oxygen and oxygen equipment;
- psychiatric care;
- psychoanalysis;
- qualified long-term care services and premiums paid for qualified long-term care insurance contracts;
- sterilization;
- stop-smoking programs;
- weight-loss programs (if a treatment for a specific disease, such as obesity or heart disease, diagnosed by a physician);
- wheelchairs; and
- X-rays.
Source: CCH Employee Benefits Management and IRS Publication 502.
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