You’re most likely aware that you can pay for prescription medications and other medical expenses with your health savings account (HSA), health flexible spending arrangement (FSA), Archer medical savings account (Archer MSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). However, did you realize that some costs related to general health, wellbeing, and nutrition also qualify?

Certain eligible medical expenses paid throughout the tax year are deductible from your income. “The costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and for the purpose of affecting any part or function of the body” is how the IRS defines eligible medical expenses.

You may be shocked to learn that some medical charges really meet IRS requirements, even if they are not eligible expenses if they are just beneficial to overall health.

Here are nine eligible medical expenses that you might not be aware of, along with how to determine your eligibility:

1. Physical, dental, and eye exams

The majority of taxpayers are aware that the cost of medical examinations qualifies as a medical expense, but keep in mind that your HSA, FSA, Archer MSA, or HRA may also pay for or reimburse the cost of dental and eye tests. This is so because the goal of dental and eye exams is to identify any diseases or illnesses that may be present.

2. Programs to treat substance use disorders

Programs that address substance use disorders, such as alcohol and drug abuse, also meet this criteria because they are treating illnesses. If they are necessary for your treatment, this can involve groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Sometimes, you can even use your HRA, FSA, Archer MSA, or HSA to cover the cost of your transportation to these events.

The costs of rehabilitation centers, as well as the costs of inpatient services that include board and food are also covered.

3. Smoking cessation products and programs

Programs for quitting smoking can be paid for with funds from your HSA, FSA, Archer MSA, or HRA since they address tobacco use disorder, which is a sickness. Counseling, medicine, coaching, consultations, and other services are included in these programs.

In addition, you can buy nicotine gum, patches, and lozenges with your health account to help you quit smoking.

4. Therapy

Depending on the reason for the therapy, therapy fees may potentially qualify as medical expenses. The therapy must be used to treat a disease in order to be eligible. For instance, the price of marital counseling is not a covered medical expense, but therapy for a confirmed mental disorder is.

5. Nutritional counseling

Only when nutritional counseling addresses a specific illness that your doctor has diagnosed is it qualified as a medical expense. Counseling for conditions like diabetes or obesity may fall under this category. This does not apply to general nutritional advising intended to treat a diagnosed illness.

6. Weight-loss programs

Certain weight-loss programs may also be paid for with your HRA, FSA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The program must address a specific condition that your doctor has diagnosed for you to be eligible, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, or hypertension.

The price of food or drinks bought for health-related objectives, such as losing weight, may also be eligible. The product must fulfill each of the following three conditions in order to be qualified:

• The food or beverage does not meet the average requirements for nutrition.
• The meal or drink must be used to treat a medical condition (such as those listed above).
• The food or drink that your doctor specifies is necessary for your therapy

You may only write off food and beverage expenses that exceed the cost of a  comparable product that “satisfies normal nutritional needs.” For instance,  if you buy a specific beverage that costs $20 and a comparable drink for everyday nutritional needs costs $8, you can only deduct the excess of $12.

7. Gym memberships

In some cases, the cost of a gym membership may qualify as a medical expense. In order to qualify, you had to have bought the membership with the intention of using it to treat a certain diagnosed illness (such as obesity, hypertension, heart disease, etc.) or to address a specific bodily structure or function (such as physical therapy).

Purchasing a gym membership solely for your overall well-being is not considered a medical expense. Likewise, the price of physical activities that enhance your overall health, such as courses in dancing or swimming, is not covered.

8. Over-the-counter drugs and menstrual care products

You can also pay for over-the-counter drugs without a prescription by using your HRA, FSA, HSA, or Archer MSA. This covers over-the-counter medications for heartburn, allergies, pain management, colds, and the flu.

Qualified medical expenses now include period care products such as tampons, pads, liners, or cups in addition to over-the-counter drugs.

9. Nutritional supplements

If your physician or another healthcare professional prescribes nutritional supplements as a treatment for a particular medical condition, then those supplements may qualify as medical expenses. Put another way, you can’t just buy vitamins or other supplements for general health just because you’ve heard that they might be beneficial; instead, you need to use the supplements in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations to address a particular disease.