OVER THE COUNTER DRUGS AND MEDICINES
IMPORTANT CHANGES EFFECTIVE 1/1/2011
Effective January 1, 2011, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, will once again limit the eligibility of over the counter (OTC) drugs and medicines as eligible expenses under health flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, and health savings accounts.
Under the Act, OTC drugs, medicines, and biologicals will be eligible only with a prescription from a medical practitioner recommending the OTC product. Because of this, these items cannot be purchased with your Benefits Card. A claim form, receipt, and prescription from a medical practitioner will be required before reimbursement can be made.
Band-aids, birth control, reading glasses, insulin, etc. will continue to be eligible without a prescription from a medical practitioner. These items can be purchased with your Benefits Card.
This change is effective on January 1, 2011, regardless of the employer’s plan year.
The following categories of items will require a prescription from a medical practitioner:
