When you shop through Truemed, most products are either fully eligible or fully ineligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement. But some products fall into a middle category: only a portion of the cost qualifies. This is called partial eligibility, and it’s worth understanding before you complete your purchase.
Partial eligibility means that only a portion of the item’s price qualifies for reimbursement through your HSA/FSA. The remaining portion of the cost is considered ineligible.
This typically occurs with products that include features or upgrades beyond a basic model. Under IRS Section 213(d), HSA and FSA funds can only be used for expenses paid for medical care. When a product includes both medical and non-medical features, such as a luxury or premium upgrade, only the portion attributable to the medical purpose qualifies.
For example: a mattress with advanced cooling features may only be eligible for the portion of its cost that exceeds that of a standard mattress.
In these cases, the eligible amount is determined based on comparisons with “base models” or similar items that meet basic eligibility requirements.
Truemed’s clinical operations team determines the eligible portion of a purchase by comparing the product to a standard, comparable version of the same item. This is called the comparable item approach.
Here’s how it works:
This comparison is documented in the Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) issued through Truemed, and when applicable, it appears on your itemized receipt as well. The goal is to give you clear documentation if your HSA/FSA administrator ever asks for a cost breakdown.
Partial eligibility comes up most often in product categories where a basic version of the item qualifies medically, but the specific product purchased includes extra features that do not.
When you go through the Truemed checkout or qualification flow for a partially eligible product, you will see the eligible and ineligible amounts broken out clearly before you pay.
Here is what the experience looks like:
For example: If you’re purchasing a mattress that costs ＄2,500 and the eligible amount is ＄2,250, you’ll pay the full ＄2,500 at checkout, but you can seek reimbursement for up to ＄2,250 from your HSA/FSA.
After your purchase, you can submit the eligible portion to your HSA or FSA administrator for reimbursement. Truemed provides the documentation you need to support your claim.
What Truemed provides:
What to keep in mind:
If you have questions about partial eligibility or want to understand how it applies to a specific product, contact the Truemed support team at support@truemed.com.