Can I Use My HSA and FSA for Migraine Treatments? CEFALY is an Eligible Expense!

• Do CEFALY products qualify for FSA or HSA reimbursement?
• What other migraine treatments can I spend my FSA or HSA money on?
• Migraine self-care and alternative treatments

Time seems to speed up at the end of the year, but don’t forget about your health savings amid all the holiday events and planning. A flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) allows you to pay for eligible medical expenses with tax-free savings. However, you may lose your FSA money if you don’t spend it by the end of the year or shortly after. Money in an HSA does carry over from year to year.

The shift to cooler, dryer temperatures near year-end is known to trigger migraine attacks for some people. The bright lights, loud noises and strong smells associated with the holidays could also worsen your symptoms. If you’re experiencing increased migraine attacks and have some health savings left over, now is the perfect time to use them to invest in migraine treatment and prevention.

Did you know that CEFALY devices and electrodes are eligible HSA/FSA expenses? Here’s how to use your account to get migraine relief.

Important note! Due to a glitch, Stripe (our payment processor) sometimes declines HSA cards for electrode purchases. If this happens to you, please contact Patient Care for help with the transaction.

How does an HSA work?

An HSA is a tax-advantaged savings account that allows you to save pre-tax money to pay for qualified medical expenses. It’s available to people who have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), a type of health insurance plan. High-deductible plans require you to pay more of your healthcare costs before your insurance starts to pay. An HSA helps combat the plan’s higher out-of-pocket medical costs.

You won’t lose the money you put into an HSA account. The funds roll over to the next year if you don’t spend them.

How does an FSA work?

An FSA is a health savings account similar to an HSA, but it’s only available for employees with an employer-sponsored health plan. You can deduct a portion of your earnings to contribute toward the FSA tax-free, and your employer can also add money to the account. This money can help cover qualifying medical expenses.

FSAs have an annual contribution limit, and most require you to use all the money in your account by the end of the year. However, your employer may give you a grace period of up to two and a half months to use the money. Another option they may provide is to roll over a specific amount to use the following year. Not sure what your employer’s policy is? Just ask!

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Do CEFALY products qualify for FSA or HSA reimbursement?

Yes! You can purchase CEFALY devices and electrodes with your HSA or FSA funds.

Devices

CEFALY is an FDA-cleared, clinically proven medical device for migraine that is eligible for FSA and HSA reimbursement. If you have health savings funds you need to spend, you could try CEFALY for the first time or upgrade your older CEFALY device to a new one. You don’t need a prescription to buy CEFALY. It’s a drug-free migraine treatment option that can relieve symptoms and help you have fewer migraine attacks.

You can buy a CEFALY device with FSA or HSA funds if you have a debit card for the account. Otherwise, you can submit a claim to the FSA through your employer or directly to your HSA provider. You may need to include proof of the medical expense and a statement showing that your health plan does not cover it. You’ll receive reimbursement after your claim is approved. If you need guidance on how to use your specific FSA or HSA, contact your insurance provider or employer.

Electrodes

CEFALY electrodes are also an eligible FSA expense. They’re the patented self-adhesive patches that stick on your forehead to hold the CEFALY device in place. You can reuse them as long as they stick to your skin, but eventually, you will have to buy new ones. We sell kits containing three electrodes, either standard or hypoallergenic. If you have sensitive skin or a known allergy to acrylates, the hypoallergenic electrodes will be better for you than the standard ones.

What other migraine treatments can I spend my FSA or HSA money on?

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) defines qualifying medical expenses as any cost associated with the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of a disease. These expenses include medical services, treatments, devices, equipment and supplies.

However, claimed medical expenses must primarily alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness. This means that most migraine treatment options that directly improve symptoms qualify as eligible expenses. Sometimes, you may need to include a medical practitioner’s recommendation along with your claim to increase the chance of acceptance.

Some eligible HSA or FSA migraine treatment expenses include:

• Medication: Some over-the-counter pain relievers — like acetaminophen or ibuprofen — qualify for HSA or FSA reimbursement. These medications may reduce head pain during an attack.
• Hot and cold therapy: Your FSA or HSA may consider hot or cold therapy products such as neck wraps, ice packs or cooling gel to be an eligible expense. Usually, only products sold as medical supplies qualify.
• Sleep aids: If sleep issues trigger your migraine, consider using your health savings for sleep aids like medication, eye masks or ear plugs. These may help you sleep better and reduce migraine attacks.
• Migraine glasses: If you’re sensitive to light, you can use FSA or HSA funds for certain eyewear. Consider sunglasses or therapeutic blue-light filtering glasses.

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What about migraine self-care and alternative treatments?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds for some alternative migraine treatments if your healthcare provider gives you a letter of medical necessity (LMN). This is a legal document stating that the expense is for treating, preventing or mitigating migraine. Some of these treatments may include:

• Chiropractics: Seeing a chiropractor is an alternative migraine treatment that may provide relief for some people. Chiropractic fees are often considered eligible for reimbursement.
• Massage: Stress and tense muscles can trigger migraine. If you feel this is an issue for you, try therapeutic massage. Some FSA and HSA providers may cover this treatment if you have an LMN.
• Acupuncture: With an LMN, you may be able to pay for acupuncture for your migraine using health savings. Studies suggest that this treatment may help reduce the frequency of migraine attacks.
• Yoga classes: Regular yoga helps some people reduce stress and alleviate migraine. Yoga classes may qualify as an eligible expense when you have an LMN.
• Botox: If a healthcare provider deems Botox medically necessary, you may be able to use HSA or FSA funds for it. Cosmetic Botox is not eligible for reimbursement.

When in doubt, always reach out to your HSA or FSA administrator beforehand to check if something qualifies for reimbursement.

Can I get help paying for CEFALY if I don’t have an FSA or HSA?

We believe that everyone living with migraine deserves drug-free relief. That’s why we try to make CEFALY accessible to everyone through our low- or no-interest payment plans. You can pay for your CEFALY device with easy monthly or weekly payments through Affirm. Alternatively, use PayPal Credit to pay for CEFALY products interest-free over six months.

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