Is bug spray covered by my FSA?

Mosquitos and other bugs can make your time spent outdoors feel like a quick path to annoying bug bites. With the possibility of contracting insect-borne pathogens that can cause more than just discomfort (think Zika, or Lyme disease), insect repellant is a must to safeguard your well-being.

Is bug spray considered FSA eligible?


Bug spray eligibility

According to IRS regulations, bug spray is generally not eligible for reimbursement through a flexible spending account (FSA). However there is one major caveat. Sunscreen with insect repellent is considered an FSA eligible expense as the primary purpose of the product is sun protection. However, stand-alone insect repellent, as effective as it may be in warding off insect-carrying mosquitoes and other bugs, is not cleared for purchase through an FSA.

The regulation that determines FSA product eligibility is IRS 213(d):

"medical care includes amounts paid for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease, or for the purpose of affecting any structure or function of the body."

Bug spray should fit into that definition, as it has a disease-preventing quality. Bug spray can play a major role in preventing the spread of insect-borne illnesses. Diseases like malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever, West Nile virus, and encephalitis are only a few examples. While bug sprays may not kill bugs outright, they are effective in deterring insects from biting or remaining on skin or clothing. The’s position on what constitutes “prevention” under 213(d) is limited to whether an individual already has a disease, or has the iminent probability of developing a disease. Based on this position the IRS has held that insect repellant does not meet the definition of a medical expense and therefore is not eligible for reimbursement with an FSA or HSA.

Currently, insect repellent is only eligible when combined with a sunscreen of SPF 15+ and broad spectrum protection (when the primary purpose of the product is sun protection). However, there is still a possibility that insect repellent could be made eligible in the near future if the IRS provides further guidance.

For now, you can use your pre-tax FSA dollars to purchase an anti-itch spray or cream with antihistamine to help relieve itching from bug bites.

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