Where can I use my benefits card?

Participants may use the benefits card to pay a hospital, doctor, dentist, or vision provider that accepts benefit cards. Auto-substantiation technology electronically verifies the transaction’s eligibility according to IRS rules. If the transaction cannot be auto substantiated, paper follow-up will be required.

IRS regulations allow participants to use their benefits card in participating pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, discount stores, department stores, and supermarkets that can identify eligible items at checkout and accept benefits cards. Eligible expenses are deducted from the account balance at the point of sale. Transactions are fully substantiated and, in most cases, no paper follow-up is needed. 

Some plan designs may also allow participants to use their cards in pharmacies that have certified that 90% of the merchandise they sell is HSA/FSA/HRA-eligible. However, since these pharmacies cannot identify the eligible items at the point of sale, another form of auto substantiation or paper follow-up will be required.