Health Savings Account Dental

We recently received a question from an account holder and we thought it would be beneficial to post the answer for anyone else who may be wondering the same thing.

“Can I use my HSA to pay for out of pocket dental work?”

Here’s our answer: Yes, most dental work will be a covered expense for your Health Savings Account (HSA), however, there are some exceptions. Here is what the IRS says about dental expenses in regards to your HSA:

“You can include in medical expenses the amounts you pay for the prevention and alleviation of dental disease. Preventive treatment includes the services of a dental hygienist or dentist for such procedures as teeth cleaning, the application of sealants, and fluoride treatments to prevent tooth decay. Treatment to alleviate dental disease include services of a dentist for procedures such as X-rays, fillings, braces, extractions, dentures, and other dental ailments.”

Here’s what is not considered to be an includable expense for your HSA:

“Generally, you cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient’s appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You cannot include in medical expenses amounts paid to whiten teeth.”