Tampons: FSA Eligibility

What are tampons?

Tampons are feminine hygiene products made with soft, absorbent that are designed to control the flow of menstrual blood by being inserted into the vagina during the menstrual period. Although these products were classified as "cosmetics" for much of the 20th century, in 1976, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reclassified them as medical products as they are "intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals, and which does not achieve any of its primary intended purposes through chemical action within or on the body of man or other animals and which is not dependent upon being metabolized for the achievement of any of its primary intended purposes."

With the passage of the CARES Act in March 2020, tampons and other menstrual care products are now fully FSA-/HSA-eligible. According to the text of the bill, menstrual care products include, “tampon, pad, liner, cup, sponge, or similar product used by individuals with respect to menstruation…”