HSA/FSA Accounts for Dependents
HSA/FSA Accounts for Dependents
HSA/FSA Accounts for Dependents
For HSA and FSA purposes, the IRS recognizes three categories of people you can spend on behalf of:
Tax dependency rules can be nuanced. If you are unsure whether someone qualifies as your dependent for HSA/FSA purposes, consult a tax advisor or review IRS Publication 502.
HSA You can use your HSA funds for your own expenses, your spouse’s expenses, or any qualifying dependent’s expenses, even if that person is not covered under your High-Deductible Health Plan. The funds simply need to be spent on a qualified medical expense for an eligible individual.
Health Care FSA The same rules apply: your FSA can be used for eligible medical expenses for you, your spouse, and your qualifying dependents. There is no need to set up separate accounts.
Only the account holder (or their spouse on a shared FSA) can make spending decisions from the account. Dependents cannot access or spend from your account directly.
Truemed can sometimes be used for purchases that are medically appropriate for a qualifying dependent, not just the account holder. The key requirement is that the purchase is medically necessary for the specific individual it is intended to benefit.
Support for minors depends on the merchant and product
Truemed can issue LMNs for minors at some merchant partners, but not all. Whether this is supported depends on the type of products being purchased.
If purchases on behalf of a minor are eligible, the option will appear in the health intake survey during checkout. If you do not see it, LMN issuance for a minor is not supported for that product or merchant. In that case, you may need to obtain an LMN for your minor directly from their PCP or pediatrician.
Who completes the health intake survey
Purchasing for both a minor and an adult in the same order If you are buying products for both a minor and an adult, you will need to split the order into two separate purchases and obtain two separate LMNs in order to qualify both.
Here is how the process works once Truemed support is confirmed for your dependent:
The LMN documents medical necessity for the specific person the purchase is for, which is what makes the transaction IRS-compliant.
Q: Can I use my HSA/FSA for my adult child who is still on my health insurance?
A: It depends on their tax status. Under the Affordable Care Act, you can keep a child on your health insurance until age 26. However, for HSA/FSA purposes the child must qualify as your tax dependent. An adult child who files their own taxes or supports themselves financially generally does not qualify, even if they remain on your health plan.
Q: My spouse has their own HSA. Can we each spend on the other?
A: Yes. Each spouse can use their own HSA for the other’s qualified medical expenses.
Q: Can I use my Dependent Care FSA for my child’s medical expenses?
A: No. A Dependent Care FSA covers childcare costs only (daycare, preschool, after-school programs). For a child’s medical expenses, use your Health Care FSA or HSA instead.
Q: Truemed does not show an option for my minor in the intake survey. What should I do?
A: If the option to request an LMN for a minor does not appear during checkout, it means that merchant or product type is not currently supported through Truemed for minor dependents. You can reach out to the child’s PCP or pediatrician to obtain an LMN directly, or contact support@truemed.com for guidance.