Are Probiotics HSA Eligible? (WHAT I DISCOVERED)

Probiotics have been a game-changer for me, but navigating the world of healthcare reimbursement can be overwhelming. That’s why I was curious to explore whether probiotics are eligible for reimbursement through a Health Savings Account (HSA).

In this post, I’ll share my findings on the eligibility of probiotics for HSA reimbursement and provide tips on how to make the most of your HSA benefits when it comes to gut health.

Many people use their Health Savings Accounts for everything from massages to breast pumps—so why not probiotics?

You might wonder how to get a letter of necessity allowing access to probiotics with your Health Savings Account.

Read on for answers about the eligibility status of these supplements and how you can obtain one from your doctor. You’ll also learn more about an LMN and its role in getting approved for such treatments.

Can You Buy Probiotics With an HSA?

The IRS has guidelines for which supplements you can buy with your HSA and those you can’t use them for. Probiotics, however, fall into the category of supplements that are ineligible—even if they’re medically prescribed.

However, you can purchase a certified probiotic supplement with your Health Savings Account (HSA), provided you have a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN).

Probiotics are nutritional supplements that help manage health concerns but aren’t considered necessary for life. Hence the government prioritizes its assistance in cases of urgent need only.

Although the IRS rule may be a point of worry for you if you’ve discovered the researched benefits of probiotics, your doctor is in a good position to help. He or she knows about your medical history—and any health challenges that require probiotic treatment.

Once your doctor confirms that you have a special need for probiotics, he or she can issue you a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN). This will help clarify the specific condition and justify why it’s important to stay on the supplement.

How To Get A Letter Of Medical Necessity For Probiotics?

In the U.S., you can get a Letter of Medical Necessity for probiotics online at the website of the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program.

This document is an easy-to-read 1-page document. So, you can fill it out with the right details in a matter of minutes.

Usually, you’ll find four fields within the document.

These are:

• “patient name,”
• “participant name,”
• “participant employer,” and
• your “FSAFEDS Username” or
• the Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number.

Once you finish this, you’re on your way to one of your best decisions for your gut health. You’re also another step ahead in being able to buy, use, and benefit from your probiotics for a long.

However, filling in your name is only one-half of the process. Before successfully submitting your Letter of Medical Necessity, you must include other details from your health overseer.

The second section of the form will ask for more information from your licensed medical practitioner. The doctor has an opportunity to describe the recommended treatment for your condition and provide details on how often or at what dose(s) you should be taking probiotic supplements.

Furthermore, your doctor will add a description of the duration of the treatment, varying from acute and chronic to lifetime. Next, they’ll sign their print name and signature to validate the truth of the shared details.

After you have collected these details and double-checked that they are accurate, you can proceed to submit your LMN. From that point, you’ll be sure of being duly reimbursed for your probiotics purchase.

How Can You Buy Probiotics Without an LMN?

A letter of medical necessity is essential to buy probiotics with your health savings account and get a reimbursement. However, without an LMN, you are with the option to buy with your personal fund.

That’s not so bad if you consider all these supplements’ benefits. You just have to ensure their quality is worth the price—like in Biotics 8, which contains over 10 strains of live bacteria and delivers 20 billion CFUs (colony-forming units).

Biotics 8 contains many probiotic strains that contribute to your health in many ways, such as boosting the immune system and reducing gas. It also has Vitamin D for its vitamin content, digestive enzymes for digestion support, and prebiotic fibers.

Some brands also offer special plans that allow you to save money while buying their probiotics supplements.

For example, YourBiology probiotics supplement offers a 3-month supply plus a 2-month free plan that lets you get 375 dollars worth of products for less than half the original price.

YourBiology Probiotics also offer an option to pay with ‘afterpay’, which allows the buyer to make 4 interest-free payments of $45.00 per month. This is also a great option for those who are looking to save money on probiotics supplements.

YourBiology Probiotics offer a variety of probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis. These two probiotic strains are known to effectively eliminate bad bacteria in the gut and prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotic use.

You can take advantage of the Yourbiology probiotics afterpay plan here.

FAQs

Are Baby Probiotics HSA Eligible?

Baby Probiotics are generally not eligible to be purchased with HSA funds. This is because they are considered a “medically necessary” item, and the government has not yet identified them as such. However, there are some exceptions. You can use your HSA card to pay for probiotics if prescribed by a qualified doctor or health professional.

Are Probiotics FSA Eligible?

Probiotics supplements can be covered by a flexible spending account (FSA) with your doctor’s Medical Necessity(LMN) letter. To be eligible, you must have a qualifying medical condition, such as lactose intolerance or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). You can also get an LMN for general well-being and to improve the health of your microbiome.

Does Health Insurance Cover Probiotics?

Health insurance providers usually don’t cover the cost of probiotic supplements because they are considered dietary supplements, not medicines. That means probiotics are only covered when a doctor prescribes specific medical conditions. However, some providers will cover the cost of probiotics if they’re taken as part of a clinical trial or another research study.

Can I Buy Probiotics Without Paying Money?

Many high-quality probiotics are available at a reasonable price. However, you can get it reimbursed under the HSA or FSA plan with a letter from your doctor stating that it is medically necessary for you to take one of these supplements.

How Can I Buy Probiotics With My Health Savings?

You may be interested in purchasing your preferred probiotic supplements with your health savings. To find this easily, get a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your doctor.

The reason for this is that probiotics are recognized as nutritional supplements. They do not perform the same work as your nutritional needs, so they are in the same class as beverages and diet foods.

However, it may be eligible for reimbursement when you obtain a certified Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from your doctor, health coach, or chiropractor. This can be done by submitting the LMN to your insurance company or HSA administrator. If they approve it, they will reimburse you for the cost of probiotics.

Are Baby Probiotics HSA Eligible?

Baby Probiotics are generally not eligible to be purchased with HSA funds. This is because they are considered a “medically necessary” item, and the government has not yet identified them as such. However, there are some exceptions.

You can use your HSA card to pay for probiotics if prescribed by a qualified doctor or health professional.

The probiotics you can buy without paying money can be found in food. These include yogurt and kimchi (which are made from fermented cabbage). Alternatively, some pharmacies offer free samples of probiotics supplements.

Wrap up

Probiotics may be HSA eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with a flexi-spend account. Speak to your insurance company and healthcare provider about the best way to get probiotics covered. If you are not sure whether or not probiotics will be covered, ask for a pre-authorization letter from your insurance company so you can start taking probiotics right away.