FSA & HSA Coverage Guide · Updated 2026
Your FSA and HSA cover crutches. Here is how to use that wisely.
Both accounts let you pay for crutches with pre-tax dollars. No prescription required. This guide covers everything from eligibility to which crutch is worth spending your tax-free balance on.
The part most people miss
The tax savings can cover the crutch.
Crutches are FSA and HSA eligible with no prescription needed since the CARES Act in 2020. In the 22% bracket, a $139 pair of in-Motion crutches really costs about $108. At 32%, about $95. The tax savings alone can cover a basic crutch.
What you need to know
Pre-tax dollars, no prescription, real savings.
Crutches are durable medical equipment under IRS Publication 502, so your FSA or HSA will cover them, and you do not need a prescription to buy. The CARES Act removed that requirement in 2020.
The six guides below walk through every part of the process: eligibility, how to pay, the FSA vs. HSA decision, what to do before your FSA expires, how to think about HSA funds long-term, and which crutch is actually worth your tax-free dollars.
The complete guide series
Six parts, start to finish
Start at part one, or jump straight to the piece you need. Each guide stands on its own.
Part 1 / Start here
Are crutches FSA and HSA eligible? Yes. Here's what to know
Yes, under IRS Publication 502. No prescription required since 2020. Here is what eligibility actually means for your wallet, with the tax savings math at the 22%, 24%, and 32% brackets.
Part 2 / How to
How to pay for crutches with your FSA or HSA card
A step-by-step walkthrough of paying at checkout, what to do if your card is declined, how to reimburse yourself, and what documentation to keep for the three-year audit window.
Part 3 / Comparison
FSA vs. HSA for crutches: which account saves you more?
A side-by-side comparison of contribution limits, rollover rules, tax advantages, and which account to use first, including the advanced HSA reimbursement strategy for long-term savings.
Part 4 / Deadlines
FSA expiration: don't let your tax-free dollars go to waste
How FSA deadlines work, the difference between grace periods and rollover limits, who should act before December 31, and why crutches are one of the best FSA purchases you can make.
Part 5 / Long-term
HSA and crutches: why quality mobility aids are a smart HSA purchase
Why the HSA rollover changes the calculus on what to buy, the receipt-stacking reimbursement strategy, and how long-term recovery and chronic conditions make quality crutches worth the spend.
Part 6 / Choosing
Best crutches to buy with FSA or HSA dollars (2026)
A comparison across all HCPCS-coded crutch types with effective cost after tax savings at each bracket, the case against cheap crutches, and how to complete your purchase at checkout.
Keep this handy
The numbers that matter for 2026
The in-Motion crutch
The crutch worth spending your FSA or HSA on
The in-Motion forearm crutch (E0110) is built for the kind of recovery that takes weeks, not days. An ergonomic grip, a shock-absorbing design, and clinical study behind it. At the effective post-tax price, it costs less than a single specialist co-pay and works far harder than anything from a hospital supply closet.
This page provides general educational information about FSA and HSA accounts and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Contribution limits, rollover amounts, deadlines, and eligibility rules vary by plan and change year to year. Confirm the details that apply to you with your plan administrator or a qualified tax professional. Tax savings estimates are illustrative and depend on your individual tax situation.