The CARES Act
This law has many important components, one of which permanently reinstates coverage of Over the Counter (OTC) drugs and medicines as items eligible for reimbursement under Code 213(d) expenses in FSA, HRA (213d eligible expenses), and HSA plans. The bill expands the eligible OTC definition to include menstrual care products (i.e. tampons, pads, etc.).
See full explanation from SIGIS: https://sig-is.org/about-sigis/news-events/2020/03/31/cares-act---eligible-product-list-changes
OTC RX Repeal
Prescriptions (Rx) will no longer be required for over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, including items like Tylenol, Claritin, Tamiflu, etc. when purchased with an FSA and HSA, effective immediately and retroactive to January 1, 2020.
Menstrual Care Products
The new allowance of menstrual care products as eligible under an FSA and HSA, effective immediately and retroactive to January 1, 2020.
Our partner FSA/HSA Store has been updating their website to reflect all the newly eligible items, please note due to high demand many products are out of inventory, they are replensihing as quickly as they can. However, you are able to search and confirm the eligibilty of the products you need. FSA store banners are linked on the flyers below as well as other pages of our website and web portals.
HDHPs and telehealth services
The CARES Act temporarily allows High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) with an HSA to cover any telehealth or remote care expenses, even if the participant hasn’t reached his/her deductible. This change continues through 2020 and 2021 (for calendar year plans). This comes after the recently passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act required certain coronavirus-related telehealth expenses to be covered with no cost sharing.
Reimbursements
ABG will approve manual claims submitted for over-the-counter items and menstrual care products retroactive to 1/1/2020.
The ABG Benefits Card
SIGIS and merchants are updating their eligible expenses lists in order for these products to be approved by benefits cards such as the ABG Benefits Card. We learned that SIGIS made its updated list (which includes over-the-counter drugs and medicines) available for merchants to download on Monday, April 13, 2020. The ABG Benefits Card will work on these new eligible over-the-counter purchases at merchants once that merchant has downloaded the updated list, which is expected to take place over the coming days and weeks. If your ABG Benefits Card does not work on one of these products, you can still submit these claims through your WealthCare Portal or Mobile App.