Quick Answer: Vitamins and supplements are NOT automatically HSA/FSA eligible - the IRS considers them "general wellness" products. However, with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) connecting them to a specific diagnosed condition, they become eligible. Crates Health makes this easy.
The IRS Rule
IRS Publication 502 explicitly states: "You can't include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, 'natural medicines,' etc." - unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition.
This means: - ❌ "I take Vitamin D because it's good for me" = NOT eligible - ✅ "I take Vitamin D because I have a diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency (E55.9)" = eligible with LMN
What Makes Supplements Eligible?
Your LMN must connect the specific supplement to a specific medical condition. For example:
Supplement | Qualifying Condition |
Vitamin D | Diagnosed Vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis |
Iron | Iron-deficiency anemia |
Omega-3 / Fish Oil | High cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, inflammation |
Probiotics | Diagnosed digestive conditions (IBS, Crohn's, post-antibiotic) |
Magnesium | Muscle cramps, migraines, sleep disorders |
B12 | B12 deficiency, fatigue, neurological symptoms |
Protein supplements | Post-surgical recovery, malnutrition, specific muscle conditions |
Electrolytes (LMNT, Liquid IV) | Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, exercise-related conditions |
Collagen | Joint conditions, post-surgical healing |
CoQ10 | Heart conditions, statin side effects |
Melatonin | Diagnosed insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders |
The Numbers Are Staggering
90%+ of Americans don't meet recommended daily intake of at least one essential nutrient
42% of U.S. adults are Vitamin D deficient (NIH)
Modern farming has reduced mineral content of produce by up to 40%
Many people have legitimate medical conditions that qualify their supplements - they just don't know it.
Popular Supplement Brands Our Members Use
AG1 (comprehensive nutrition)
Thorne (premium supplements)
Momentous (performance nutrition)
Ritual (daily vitamins)
Seed (probiotics)
LMNT (electrolytes)
Liquid IV (hydration)
Vital Proteins (collagen)
Nordic Naturals (Omega-3s)
Garden of Life
Pure Encapsulations
Important: LMN Must Be Dated Before Purchase
Your LMN must be issued before you buy the supplements. Backdating LMNs is against IRS policy, so purchases made before your LMN was issued cannot be reimbursed for products requiring an LMN.
Tip: Get your Crates LMN first, then stock up.
"What About Prenatal Vitamins?"
Prenatal vitamins are one of the few supplement categories that are almost always eligible without an LMN, since they're considered a standard part of pregnancy care. However, having an LMN provides extra documentation security.
Related Articles
Still Need Help?
Wondering if your specific supplement qualifies? Chat with us or email [email protected]!