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OPM.gov / Frequently Asked Questions / Insure FAQ / Flexible Spending Account
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Flexible Spending Account

Questions and answers

It’s the law.  Under the Affordable Care Act, the IRS requires a prescription for over-the-counter medicines and drugs to be reimbursed.  Another reason is to make sure the person prescribed the medicine or drug is the person who will use it.

You do NOT need a prescription to be reimbursed for eligible over-the-counter expenses that are NOT medicines or drugs.  Some examples of over-the-counter expenses that are not medicines or drugs are band-aids/bandages, crutches and foot orthotics.
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