Eligible and Ineligible Over-the-Counter Medications
Please review the lists below to determine if your over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible expenses must be used for medical care and can be reimbursed when purchased in reasonable quantities without a medical practitioner’s note. Ineligible expenses cannot be reimbursed regardless of their use. The dual purpose list is for items that are eligible for reimbursement if they are used for a medical purpose and are accompanied by a medical practitioner’s note stating that the person has a specific medical condition that it is being used to treat. The list is not all-inclusive.
(Note: Only valid through 12/31/2010 per the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)
Eligible Expenses
- Allergy Medicine
- Antacids
- Bactine
- Bandaids/Bandages
- Anti-diarrhea Medicine
- Bug Bite Medication
- Calamine Lotion
- Carpal Tunnel Wrist Supports
- Cold Medicines
- Cold/Hot Packs for Injuries (i.e., BenGay, Tiger Balm, etc.)
- Condoms
- Contact Lens Cleaning Solution
- Cough Drops
- Diaper Rash Ointments
- First Aid Cream
- First Aid Kits
- Hemorrhoid Medication
- Incontinence SUpplies
- Laxatives
- Liquid Adhesive for Small Cuts
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- Menstrual Cycle Products for Pain and Cramp Relief
- Motion Sickness Pills
- Nasal Sinus Sprays
- Nasal Strips
- Nicotine Gum or Patches for Stop-Smoking Purposes
- Pain Reliever
- Pedialyte for Ill Child's Dehydration
- Pregnancy Test Kits
- Products for Muscle Pain or Joint Pain
- Reading Glasses
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Sinus Medications
- Sleeping Aids used to treat occasional insomnia
- Special Ointment or Cream for Sunburn
- Spermicidal Foam
- Thermometers (ear or mouth)
- Throat Lozenges
- Visine and Other such eye products
- Wart remover treatments
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Ineligible Expenses
- Chapstick
- Face Cream, Moisteners
- Medicated Shampoos and Soaps
- One-A-Day Vitamins
- Suntan Lotion
Dual Purpose(must be accompanied by a licensed medical practitioner’s note stating specific medical condition)
- Acne Treatment (Retin A) - only to treat a specific medical condition such as acne vulgaris
- Dietary SUpplements or Herbal medicines to treatr a specific medical condition in narrow circumstances
- Glucosamine/Chondroitin for arthritis or other medical condition
- Orthopedic Shoes and Inserts (for orthopedic shoes, you can only be reimbursed for the extra cost over buying non-orthopedic shoes).
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- OTC Hormone Therapy and treatment for menopause to treat symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, etc.
- Pills for persons swho are Lactose Intolerant
- Prenatal Vitamins
- St. John's Wort for Depression
- Sunscrean
- Weight-Loss Drugs to treat a specific disease (including obesity)
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Non-traditional healing treatments provided by licensed professionals may be eligible under certain circumstances. The treatments must be legal. The expenses are not reimbursable if the remedy is a food or substitute for food that the person would normally consume to meet nutritional requirements.
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