Measured by any standard, the cost of health care in today’s world is huge. As an employer, you have a keen interest in both the good health of your employees and the price of keeping them healthy. The search for ways to reduce medical expenses is ongoing in your workplace, as well as many others. Health Care Reimbursement Accounts are an important but sometimes overlooked tool for reducing the cost of staying healthy.

Health Care Reimbursement accounts give individuals the opportunity to use pre-tax earnings to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses not covered by a group plan. Reimbursable expenses incurred by employees or their dependents include those listed below. For more detailed information on qualifying expenses and to access links to important IRS publications, go to the IRS Publication 502 (.pdf) and IRS Publication 503 (.pdf).

	Medical doctors’ fees
	Eye examinations
	Prescription drugs
	Hospital services
	Surgery
	False teeth
	Acupuncturists’ fees
	Annual physical examinations
	Eyeglasses
	X-rays
	Chiropractors’ fees
	Ambulance service
	Psychiatrists’ fees
	Orthodontists’ fees
	Dental examinations
	Contact lenses and solutions
	Lab fees
	Hearing aids
	Nursing home costs
	Psychologists’ fees
	Prescribed Weight loss programs