Is Protein Powder FSA Eligible if It’s for Weight Loss?

Whether you’re focused on getting your body ready for the beach or you’re working on your health goals, losing weight may be on your to-do list. If you've been working out at a gym, you may have overheard other gym-goers talking about having a protein shake after their workouts. Which may have left you wondering: is protein powder FSA eligible? Protein shakes are considered food items, and unfortunately you typically cannot use your flexible spending account (FSA) towards these. We get many questions about FSA eligibility at FSAstore.com, as people often wonder why protein powder is not considered an FSA eligible expense.

What's FSA eligible?

The IRS officially defines eligible medical expenses, and the rules around reimbursement for food items is very complex. According to the IRS, the cost of food items can be reimbursed with an FSA or HSA, but it must meet all three of the following criteria: but only if (1) the food or beverage doesn't satisfy normal nutritional needs, (2) the food or beverage alleviates or treats an illness, and (3) the need for the food or beverage is substantiated by a physician. The medical expense is limited to the amount by which the cost of the food or beverage exceeds the cost of a product that satisfies normal nutritional needs. If any of the three requirements is not met, the cost of food or beverages is not a medical expense. Generally, protein powder satisfies normal nutritional needs, so the instances in which it meets this criteria is likely very limited.

Even though protein powder isn't generally an FSA eligible expense, there are other eligible items that can help you manage pain during and after your next workout!

Consider this list of FSA eligible products:

Knee and ankle braces
Elastics and bandages
Hot and cold packs for sore muscles
Advil, ibuprofen and other over-the-counter medicines.
Acupressure
TENS Therapy

If you're interested in losing weight for health reasons, it's best to speak with your doctor beforehand. He or she will be able to assess your situation and see what programs or regiments will help. And if you're interested in involving your FSA with that weight loss goal, you definitely want to check in with your FSA administrator on what might qualify.-

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