Is deodorant or antiperspirant FSA/HSA eligible?

Everyday deodorant and antiperspirant are not normally FSA or HSA eligible, but a medical-use antiperspirant can be with a letter of medical necessity. Flexible spending accounts (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSA) let you set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for products that diagnose, treat, or prevent a medical condition. Ordinary personal-care products do not qualify on their own, which is why deodorant is usually excluded. If you and your doctor are using a clinical antiperspirant such as Certain Dri to manage hyperhidrosis, though, that medical use can make it an eligible expense.

When the U.S. government passed the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) in 2020, it reinstated FSA and HSA reimbursement for a wide range of over-the-counter products, effective retroactively to January 1, 2020. Some OTC items are reimbursed easily; others, like an antiperspirant used for a medical condition, become eligible through the letter-of-medical-necessity process below.

What is a letter of medical necessity?

A letter of medical necessity (LMN) is a statement from your healthcare provider confirming that a product is needed to diagnose, treat, or prevent a medical condition. For an over-the-counter product such as Certain Dri, the letter should explain that the product helps treat, manage, or prevent a condition you have — such as hyperhidrosis — and that it plays an essential role in your care. With that documentation on file, the product can qualify as a reimbursable expense from your pre-tax health account.

How to get antiperspirant covered by your FSA or HSA

If you and your doctor have identified an OTC product that helps manage your condition, and it is not already on the common list of FSA-eligible OTC products, here is what to do:

  • Ask your benefits administrator or human resources department whether there is an official form for getting an OTC product approved as an FSA-eligible expense.
  • If there is no form, ask your doctor to write you a letter of medical necessity. It needs to state the medical condition the product treats, a description of the regimen (frequency and dosage), and how long you are expected to need it.
  • Submit the signed form or letter of medical necessity along with your receipts or invoices for the products to be reimbursed.
  • Be aware that, in some cases, benefits administrators may ask for additional information from your doctor.

What to include in a letter of medical necessity

Here is the key information your letter should include. It should be provided on your healthcare provider’s official letterhead or prescription pad, or on the official form provided for this purpose by your benefits manager or HR department:

  1. Provider’s official letterhead or prescription pad (or the appropriate form).
  2. The patient’s name (yours).
  3. The specific diagnosis or condition, and the treatment, product, or service being recommended or required.
  4. Dose amount, frequency of dose, and duration of therapy (days, weeks, months, or ongoing). Note that letters of medical necessity typically need to be renewed each year.
  5. The signature of a licensed medical practitioner.

Tips for FSA/HSA success

  • Start the conversation with your provider by email or a telehealth appointment if possible — an in-office visit may not be required, and starting early means no one feels rushed.
  • Create a “medical expenses” folder where you keep all potentially FSA-eligible receipts.
  • Keep a matching folder on your computer for any digital receipts or bills.
  • Put a recurring reminder in your calendar every three to four months to file your FSA claims for reimbursement.

Of course, caring for your skin and excessive sweating goes well beyond your wallet. To learn more, read about hyperhidrosis and tips for managing it, compare formulas on the Certain Dri difference page, and see where to buy Certain Dri.