One provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) of 2020 was that over-the-counter (OTC) medications became FSA and HSA eligible without needing a prescription. Previously you would need a letter of medical necessity or a prescription from your health care provider to pay for OTC medications with FSA or HSA funds. By eliminating that requirement, you can now purchase medicine for cold and flu symptom relief online and at the pharmacy with your FSA or HSA dollars! You can stock up on pain relievers, fever reducers, cough and congestion relief, nasal sprays, cough drops and more to ensure you’re prepared to deal with any cold or flu-like symptoms at home.

Non-contact thermometers have been popular during the pandemic because they allow people to get a fast and accurate body temperature read without requiring physical contact. The thermometers use infrared technology to measure body temperature safely from a distance, which is not possible with some types like oral and tympanic (ear) thermometers.

During the pandemic, taking a person’s temperature without having to get close has been necessary to safeguard against spreading the virus. Schools, businesses, and hospitals take the temperature of students, employees, clients, customers, patients, etc. before allowing them entrance to check for an active fever, which could be a symptom of the COVID-19 virus. It is just one stop-gap measure to reduce the virus spread. You can purchase a non-contact thermometer with FSA or HSA funds to keep at home or to take on-the-go for safe temperature reads when you need it.

Pulse oximetry is a measure of a person’s oxygen saturation level to see how well the heart is delivering oxygen to the extremities like fingers and toes. A pulse oximeter takes a quick reading of the oxygen saturation level to detect any changes or deficiencies. The COVID-19 virus has a vast range of symptoms that vary person to person, but one common symptom relates to reduced oxygen levels in the blood stream, which can cause trouble breathing. During the pandemic, people who wanted to monitor their oxygen levels at home bought pulse oximeters to ensure they could tell when or if they might need to seek medical help.

You can purchase a pulse oximeter to keep on hand in your COVID-19 tool kit using pre-tax FSA and HSA dollars. If you experience any concerning symptoms like trouble breathing, consulting a medical professional should take priority over any at-home diagnostic tools!

Testing was a struggle at the start of the pandemic. While it has drastically improved, having access to an at-home test kit could offer peace of mind in the event you or someone in your household is concerned about potential exposure, symptoms, or want to get a test prior to some upcoming event, activity, etc. In some areas getting tested is still tough because of limited access to testing sites or high demand making it difficult to secure an appointment.

The at-home COVID-19 testing kit allows you to take a saliva sample at home, mail it to the lab, and get results online with the option to speak with a doctor about your results. For anyone who wants to avoid waiting outside in lines at testing facilities or has had a hard time scheduling an appointment, the ability to do a test from the comfort of your home may come as a relief. The test kit is also FSA- and HSA-eligible, meaning you can use your tax-advantaged funds to pay for it.