Eligibility overview

  • Updated

Because contributions to your Health Spending Account (HSA) are tax-free, reimbursement of paid eligible medical and dental expenses are guided by Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) Medical Expense Tax Credit.    

Below is a list of typical eligible expenses. Note that this list is subject to change but you can search current eligibility via CRA's website.

 

Acoustic coupler Computer peripherals Hospital services Osteogenesis stimulator (inductive coupling) Teletypewriters
Air conditioner Cosmetic surgery after 2010-03-04 Infusion pump Oxygen and oxygen tent Television closed caption decoders
Air filter, cleaner, or purifier Crutches Injection pen (such as insulin pens) Oxygen concentrator Tests
Altered auditory feedback devices Deaf-blind intervening services Insulin or substitutes Pacemakers Therapy
Ambulance Dental services except cosmetic IVF program Page-turner devices Training
Assisted breathing devices Dentures and dental implants Iron lung Personalized therapy plan Travel expenses (at least 40kms)
Artificial eye or limb Devices or software Kidney machine Phototherapy equipment Travel expenses (at least 80kms)
Artificial or prosthetic limbs Diapers or disposable briefs Laboratory procedures or services Premiums paid to private health services plans  Travel expenses (outside of Canada)

Attendant care expenses

 Doctor, including Naturopathic Large print-on-screen devices Pre-natal and post-natal treatments Treatment centre

Audible signal devices

 Driveway access Laryngeal speaking aids Prescription drugs and medications Truss for hernia
Baby breathing monitor Drugs Laser eye surgery Pressure pulse therapy devices Tutoring services
Bathroom aids Elastic support hose Lift or transportation equipment Reading services Vaccines
Bliss symbol boards Electrolysis Liver extract injections (pernicious anaemia) Real-time captioning Van
Blood coagulation monitors Electronic bone healing device Medical cannabis (marijuana) Rehabilitative therapy Vehicle device
Bone conduction receiver Electronic speech synthesizers Medical practitioner services Renovation or construction expenses Vision devices
Bone marrow transplant Electrotherapy devices Medical services provided outside of Canada Respite care expenses Visual or vibratory signalling device
Braces for a limb & compression socks Environmental control system Moving expenses Rocking bed Vitamin B12 injections
Braille note-taker devices Extremity pump Needles and syringes School for persons with disabilities Voice recognition software
Braille printers, synthetic speech systems Fertility-related procedures (not including surrogacy expenses) Note-taking services Scooter Volume control feature (additional)
Breast prosthesis Furnace Nurse Service animals Walking aids
Cancer treatment Gluten-free products Nursing home Sign-language interpretation services Water filter, cleaner, or purifier
Catheters, catheter trays, tubing Group home Optical scanners Spinal brace Wheelchairs and wheelchair carriers
Certificates Hearing aids Organ transplant Standing devices Whirlpool bath treatments
Chair Heart monitoring devices Orthodontic work Talking textbooks Wigs
Cochlear implant Hospital bed Orthopaedic shoes, boots, and inserts    
Colostomy and ileostomy pads  

 

Medical practitioners are regulated by province. To see if your service provider is eligible, check on the CRA's website!

If you don't find your expense listed, just reach out to us and we'll check it out! We have a list of odds and ends that are not typical expenses that are on our radar and we'll do the research needed if something is new, so you don't have to!

WHAT'S NOT ELIGIBLE?

Generally speaking, the following list of expenses are not eligible for reimbursement through your HSA.   

  • Athletic or fitness club fees
  • Birth control devices (non-prescription)
  • Blood pressure monitors
  • Expenses for purely cosmetic procedures (Non-eligible cosmetic procedures include: liposuction, hair replacement procedures and botulinum injections; may qualify if necessary for medical or reconstructive purposes)
  • Diaper services
  • Health plan premiums paid by an employer and not included in your income
  • Organic food
  • Over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, even if prescribed by a medical practitioner
  • Most provincial and territorial health plans
  • Travel expenses under 40 kms
  • Activity trackers such as Fitbit/Apple watch/Garmin etc