Are Orthotics Covered by FSA

Overview

Orthotics can be incredibly useful for those experiencing foot pain from conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or others. The problem is they cost anywhere from $200 to $800, so it leaves them out of reach for most individuals. However, an FSA account might be the way you can get them paid for!

FSA Explained

A Flexible spending account (FSA) is a pre-tax benefit that many employers offer their employees. You can use the funds for medical expenses, as long as they are truly qualified expenses. The benefit is that the funds are pulled from your paycheck pretax, so it can greatly reduce your total taxable income at the end of the year, as well as your total healthcare spending. 

To get a FSA account you must have a program through your employer, and elect how much you will contribute. Depending on your employer, they may also contribute a certain amount. It’s important to remember that you must use your FSA funds or they may not roll over to the following year, costing you thousands. 

Are Orthotics Eligible for FSA

Short answer… It depends! 

If you are purchasing the orthotics online, the website itself should indicate if it’s FSA/HSA eligible. Generally, if they are made to alleviate common conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, bunions, arthritis, or even back/knee pain, then you can get the purchase covered. For example, all Stride Soles are able to be purchased with your FSA card. 

Orthotics are not likely to be covered if you are buying them for cosmetic or general comfort reasons, not a real medical purpose. This becomes a gray area for products like Dr. Scholl’s, where some are for real medical reasons, and others are not. On their website, you’ll have to check with each product individually to see if it’s eligible. If a website is not clear, it’s best to contact their customer service center and ask, rather than risk having to pay for it out of pocket. 

Additionally, If you are at a doctors office, they should know what products are and aren’t FSA eligible. Talk to your doctor about what options are available and how you would prefer to pay with your FSA account. If they don’t know if the product is FSA eligible, that might be a red flag that the provider is not experienced in the area. 

You can also visit the FSAstore.com which already has a list of FSA approved items. 

How to use your FSA funds on Orthotics

First you need to find a company which offers FSA eligible orthotics, as discussed above. 

Once you find the item, you can do one of two things. First, you can pay with your FSA card right then. FSA cards act like debit cards, so be sure to check that you can cover the purchase prior to running your card. Failure to do so may result in an increase in fees. 

If you don’t have a FSA card, you will have to submit receipts and documentation for the product. Again, be sure to confirm the product is actually FSA eligible prior to purchase. If it is, your issuer will reimburse you the amount and take that mount out of your FSA account. 

Final Thoughts

Using your FSA/HSA to purchase orthotics is a great way to take advantage of a remarkable way to save money. It’s best to spend some time to plan out how much you think you’ll need to spend every year, as you don’t want to be caught over or under budgeting and risk the money not rolling over.