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A new House bill could close a gap in the flexible spending and health savings account eligibility rules: It would let FSA and HSA holders use the accounts to pay for over-the-counter oral health products.
If the bill passes and works as the supporters expect, workers could use FSA money or HSA money to pay for items such as toothpaste, ordinary toothbrushes and expensive electric toothbrushes.
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Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., introduced the bill Tuesday.Because implementing the bill would reduce federal income tax revenue, it comes under the jurisdiction of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Van Drew has attracted one Republican co-sponsor, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, and two Democratic co-sponsors, Bradley Scott Schneider of Illinois and Jimmy Panetta of California.
The new bill is similar to a bill that Van Drew introduced in June 2024. That version, which also had a bipartisan list of co-sponsors, died in committee.
The bill has the support of the American Dental Association.
"Americans should not be taxed on products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and dental floss that are necessary for maintaining their health," the association says.
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Allison Bell
Allison Bell, a senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor and BenefitsPRO, previously was an associate editor at National Underwriter Life & Health. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She can be reached through X at @Think_Allison.
