Yes, You Can Use Your FSA or HSA to Buy Sunglasses — Here’s How
Key takeaways:
Sunglasses with UV protection have health benefits, such as guarding your eyes against UV rays and reducing the symptoms of cataracts.
You can use your flexible spending account (FSA) to purchase prescription sunglasses before the money in your account expires. The money in your health savings account (HSA) rolls over every year, so you’ll be able to use the account to buy prescription sunglasses at any time.
Check with your FSA account administrator to find out the best way to purchase prescription sunglasses or get reimbursed for your purchase.
Table of contents
There are health benefits to wearing sunglasses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sunglasses guard your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and help reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Sunglasses can also protect the skin surrounding your eyes. This area of the face can be sensitive to sunlight.
Generally, vision insurance provides coverage for annual eye exams, prescription glasses, and scratch-resistant coating. You usually pay a deductible and copayment for each service and item.
But if you do not have a vision insurance policy or your expenses are not covered, you may pay for vision expenses with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA). You can also use these accounts if you have already used your vision plan benefits for the year and want to add prescription sunglasses.
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Can you buy sunglasses with your FSA?
It depends. Sunglasses may count as a qualified vision expense under an FSA. There must be an IRS-approved medical reason for you to have the sunglasses, such as to correct your vision. And you must have a prescription from an eye doctor.
If you have an FSA, you should understand how the account works in order to make the most of your benefits. An employer may offer employees an FSA. This allows for tax-free spending on qualified medical expenses, deductibles, and copayments. This tends to reduce your healthcare costs.
Each year, the IRS sets the maximum contribution limit for an FSA. You can contribute up to $3,200 in 2024 if you participate in your company’s FSA. Money will be deducted from your paycheck and transferred to your FSA every pay period. If you have contributed enough money to your FSA to cover their cost, you’ll be able to buy prescription sunglasses.
An FSA is generally a “use-it-or-lose-it” account. This means you forfeit the unused amount at the end of the year. An employer may allow a smaller amount as a carryover or provide a grace period of 2 ½ months for the following year. A grace period gives you extra time to use the funds in your FSA.
How do you buy sunglasses with your FSA?
Your employer or account administrator will usually provide you with an FSA debit card to pay for your prescription sunglasses. The advantage of this is that you do not have to pay for them yourself and then wait for reimbursement.
For your purchases, you will also need to submit a form to document your expenses. Check with your FSA account administrator to find out the best way to purchase sunglasses or seek reimbursement for their purchase. You may need to provide details including the following:
Date of purchase
Medical provider’s name, address, and tax ID or Social Security number
Name of the medical item
Name of the medical service
Prescription name or number
Receipts for a sunglasses purchase
What about other vision care expenses? You can use your FSA or HSA to cover many types of prescription glasses, as well as other eye care expenses. Read on to see what’s eligible — and what’s not.
Save on sunscreen: Sunscreen may be FSA eligible, but only if it meets certain criteria. Here’s what to know before you stock up.
Choosing the best eye protection: Polarized sunglasses are labeled for outdoor use, but are they really the best option? Find out what you really need to look for when buying sunglasses.
Before you make a payment, make sure the expense is qualified. You can verify the purchase with your employer. Some plans may not cover sunglasses, even if they have a medical purpose.
If you make an ineligible expense, there is no IRS penalty. But the plan sponsor may require that you reimburse for the expense.
Check first to see if you have enough money in your FSA for the expense. You can call the plan sponsor for your account balance or check the website or app linked to your account.
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Can you buy sunglasses with an HSA?
Yes. You can use your HSA to purchase sunglasses if you receive a prescription from a doctor.
An HSA is paired with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). This has a minimum annual deductible for an individual or family. There is also a maximum out-of-pocket expense for the plan. This is the amount you pay for deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and qualified medical costs.
An HSA has three tax benefits:
Deduction for your annual contributions
Tax-free capital gains, interest, or dividends on the account
Tax-free payments for qualified medical expenses
You can roll over all unused amounts in an HSA to the following year.
How do you use your HSA to buy sunglasses
The process is similar to an FSA. You make a purchase with a debit card from the plan sponsor, or you use your own card or check. Since the funds from your HSA roll over every year, you can use money accumulated in the account from prior years to purchase sunglasses. You should confirm that the transaction is HSA-eligible by calling the plan sponsor or visiting their website.
You will also need to maintain documentation for your expenses, such as receipts and the details of the transactions. If not, the IRS could deny your tax benefits if there is an audit.
If you purchase an item that’s considered an ineligible expense, you will pay taxes on the amount you spent. The reason is that the IRS considers nonqualified expenses to be gross income. You will also have to pay a 20% penalty on the amount if you are younger than 65. Make sure your sunglasses purchase is a qualified expense to avoid unexpected taxes or penalties.
Are nonprescription sunglasses HSA-eligible?
Usually not. Generally, qualified medical expenses are those that reduce or prevent physical disability or illness. This would not include nonprescription sunglasses, because they are for general health or cosmetic purposes.
The same goes for polarized lenses, which lower the amount of glare from sunlight that bounces off of surfaces. A doctor would not prescribe them. The reason is that polarized lenses do not correct a person’s vision or treat a health problem.
There may be an exception if your nonprescription sunglasses are recommended by your ophthalmologist or optometrist. However, this is rare, so reach out to your HSA or FSA provider to confirm if your sunglasses would count as a qualified medical expense.
Can you use your HSA for glasses and other vision care?
You can use your HSA or FSA for a variety of vision care expenses that correct a vision problem, detect vision changes, or treat a specific condition, including:
Contact lens solution
Routine eye exams
The bottom line
You may use an FSA or HSA to reduce your vision expenses during the year. These accounts can pay for qualified medical expenses, such as prescription sunglasses. When you use your FSA or HSA to pay for your sunglasses, you can take advantage of tax benefits.
Both an FSA and an HSA have various requirements. For example, an HSA requires a high-deductible health plan, whereas an FSA has limitations on carrying over funds to the following year. You can use either account to purchase sunglasses. However, you typically must have a prescription for the sunglasses.
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References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Sun safety.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Out-of-pocket costs.
Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Using a flexible spending account (FSA).
Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Publication 502 (2023), medical and dental expenses.
Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Publication 969 (2023), health savings accounts and other tax-favored health plans.
This article is solely for informational purposes. This article is not professional advice concerning insurance, financial, accounting, tax, or legal matters. All content herein is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. Always consult an appropriate professional when you have specific questions about any insurance, financial, or legal matter.
