HSA/FSA
Are Heating Pads and Other Menopause Treatments HSA/FSA Eligible?
Minimize menopause symptoms with treatments covered by your HSA and FSA.
October 7, 2024
Sam O'Keefe
Co-founder & CEO of Flex
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
Menopause marks the end of menstruation and brings about significant changes in the female body. Unfortunately, for many, this also comes with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, and for about 85% of menopausal women, hot flashes.
To help alleviate some of the discomfort, there are a range of products and interventions that can help, including cooling devices and heating pads, hormone replacement therapy, and natural remedies.
Read on to learn about different treatment options and how you may be able to save yourself some discomfort (physically and financially) by using your HSA or FSA.
What Is Menopause?
You can think of menopause as putting the period on your period. Said another way, menopause is when the period stops.
Getting a bit technical, menopause actually marks a point in time — it is a diagnosis that is made after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period or vaginal bleeding.
This transition typically occurs in women in their late 40s and 50s, and comes about when the ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones. It brings a range of physical and emotional changes, including hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, though the symptoms can vary widely from one woman to another.
There are three stages:
Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause, typically starting several years before. This phase signals the start of hormonal shifts in your body, and it often comes with symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and difficulty concentrating.
Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. At this stage, estrogen levels drop, and symptoms, like continued hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and changes in mood and sleep patterns may intensify.
Postmenopause is the phase after menopause has occurred. At this time, many symptoms gradually subside. However, the decrease in estrogen can lead to long-term health concerns, such as osteoporosis or heart disease. Long-term management is often necessary.
What Are Some Treatments for Menopause?
Hot flashes and night sweats (also known as vasomotor symptoms) can happen 12 to 15 times per day and affect most women.
Saying that, everyone’s experience of menopause is different and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing the side effects. Luckily, there are a variety of treatments to help alleviate symptoms and manage the health risks.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves taking estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone to relieve menopause symptoms. The benefits of HRT include improved mood and sleep, reduced risk of diabetes and colon cancer, and a reduction of health conditions caused by low estrogen, including osteoporosis.
Hormone replacement therapy helps many women handle their menopause, but it can also come with potential downsides, such as increased risk of heart disease, strokes, blood clots, and breast cancer. When choosing your treatment, make sure to talk with your doctor and weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
Menopause medications
Several other prescription medications can help with menopause symptoms. Antidepressants, for instance, may reduce hot flashes, while other drugs, like Gabapentin, originally used for epilepsy and chronic nerve pain, can be prescribed off-label to ease night sweats and sleep disturbances.
These meds won’t ease the symptoms as efficiently and holistically as hormone replacement therapy, but they also come with fewer risks.
Additional options include over-the-counter remedies, like ibuprofen for joint pain or lubricants for vaginal dryness, which can offer some much-needed relief.
Non-hormonal or natural alternatives
If you prefer natural or non-hormonal options there are other treatments to consider, each with varying degrees of effectiveness:
Massage therapy can relieve stress and anxiety, which are common during menopause. Some studies suggest that regular massage may even help reduce symptoms like hot flashes and disrupted sleep.
Acupuncture may provide short-term relief from some menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes.
Regular physical activity, including yoga, can improve mood, increase energy levels, and helps reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems.
Hypnotherapy, or clinical hypnosis, can be a powerful tool in managing menopause symptoms by helping you relax and gain control over your body’s responses to stress and hormonal changes.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help manage the emotional and psychological symptoms by altering how one relates to the experience of menopause and promoting healthier coping mechanisms.
Magnetic therapy involves using magnets to alleviate pain and improve circulation. While some women report symptom relief, scientific evidence on its effectiveness is mixed.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques, can make a significant difference in reducing menopause symptoms and improving overall well-being.
Products That Can Help Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause
Many products are available to help manage menopause symptoms — including some that may be HSA/FSA eligible!
Heating pads or cooling devices are a popular choice for soothing muscle aches and pains that can accompany menopause. They provide targeted relief and are often a first-line treatment for discomfort.
Herbal supplements like black cohosh or red clover are commonly used as a treatment for hot flashes and other symptoms, though it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Home massagers and massage guns can help alleviate muscle tension and stress, which may provide some extra relief during menopause.
Here are a few partners of Flex that can help ease symptoms with innovative, natural, and non-invasive menopause treatments.
Embr Labs: Wearable temperature and menopause relief
Embr Labs’ Wave is a wearable “menopause watch” that provides on-demand temperature control, offering instant relief from hot flashes and night sweats. This non-invasive, tech-driven solution is like a personal thermometer so you can experience temperature relief wherever, whenever.
Happy V: Natural probiotic supplement for menopause
Happy V’s Menopause Probiotic Supplement blends probiotics and natural botanicals to support hormone balance and digestive health during menopause. This gentle, natural approach helps manage symptoms from the inside out, which promotes overall well-being.
Amira: Nighttime cooling relief for hot flashes
Amira offers a smart cooling mattress pad that activates when it detects you are having a hot flash. If you are tired of waking up tired and drenched in sweat, the Terra may be your key to sleeping through menopause symptoms.
Kindra: Science-backed wellness essentials for menopause
Kindra delivers science-backed, hormone-free wellness products designed to soothe menopause symptoms like dryness and mood swings. Their plant-powered solutions help you maintain balance and well-being through this life transition.
Momotaro Apotheca: Organic intimate care for menopause
Momotaro Apotheca’s organic, plant-based products offer gentle, effective care for intimate health during menopause. Free from harsh chemicals, their formulations address dryness and discomfort, ensuring confidence and comfort.
Are Heating Pads and Other Menopause Treatments HSA/FSA Eligible?
While hormone replacement therapy generally isn’t HSA/FSA eligible, many other menopause treatments are. For example, heating pads and OTC medications are HSA/FSA eligible, along with the companies we’ve partnered with above. Many other items may be eligible but will require a Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN).
Are OTC medicines that help with menopause symptoms eligible?
Yes, over-the-counter medicines that alleviate menopause symptoms are HSA/FSA eligible.
How Flex Can Help You Pay for Menopause Treatments With Your HSA/FSA
Flex can streamline the process of paying for menopause treatments.
Step 1: Add the HSA/FSA-eligible product you want to your cart
Companies like Happy V, Embr Labs, Amira, Kindra and Momotaro Apotheca have partnered with Flex to make purchasing their products with HSA/FSA much easier.
Step 2: Select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout
You can buy these items directly from the companies by selecting “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" as your payment option at checkout. You can then use either your HSA/FSA card or pay out-of-pocket with a regular credit or debit card (and receive the required documents to submit for reimbursement via email).
It’s as simple as that.
Step 3: Keep Documentation
Keep all documentation, including receipts and the Letter of Medical Necessity (should it be necessary), for tax purposes and to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.
Note that the HSA and FSA eligibility of other menopause relief items and treatments may depend on your plan, so make sure to verify with your provider first.
How it typically works to pay for menopause treatments with your HSA/FSA
If you want to purchase from a company not partnered with Flex and you require a Letter of Medical Necessity, you’ll first need to obtain one from your doctor or appropriate healthcare provider.
From there, you will have to pay out-of-pocket first and submit a claim for reimbursement. Be sure to include your receipt and the letter of medical necessity when filing the claim. As always, keep all documentation for tax purposes and to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.
Menopause Relief: Manage Symptoms and Savings With Your HSA or FSA
Menopause can be a challenging transitionary period, but it can also be eased with therapies and interventions — many of which are HSA and FSA eligible. We hope these treatments help you on your journey, but if you experience particularly difficult or uncomfortable symptoms, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.
Menopause marks the end of menstruation and brings about significant changes in the female body. Unfortunately, for many, this also comes with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, and for about 85% of menopausal women, hot flashes.
To help alleviate some of the discomfort, there are a range of products and interventions that can help, including cooling devices and heating pads, hormone replacement therapy, and natural remedies.
Read on to learn about different treatment options and how you may be able to save yourself some discomfort (physically and financially) by using your HSA or FSA.
What Is Menopause?
You can think of menopause as putting the period on your period. Said another way, menopause is when the period stops.
Getting a bit technical, menopause actually marks a point in time — it is a diagnosis that is made after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period or vaginal bleeding.
This transition typically occurs in women in their late 40s and 50s, and comes about when the ovaries stop producing reproductive hormones. It brings a range of physical and emotional changes, including hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, though the symptoms can vary widely from one woman to another.
There are three stages:
Perimenopause is the period leading up to menopause, typically starting several years before. This phase signals the start of hormonal shifts in your body, and it often comes with symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness, and difficulty concentrating.
Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. At this stage, estrogen levels drop, and symptoms, like continued hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and changes in mood and sleep patterns may intensify.
Postmenopause is the phase after menopause has occurred. At this time, many symptoms gradually subside. However, the decrease in estrogen can lead to long-term health concerns, such as osteoporosis or heart disease. Long-term management is often necessary.
What Are Some Treatments for Menopause?
Hot flashes and night sweats (also known as vasomotor symptoms) can happen 12 to 15 times per day and affect most women.
Saying that, everyone’s experience of menopause is different and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing the side effects. Luckily, there are a variety of treatments to help alleviate symptoms and manage the health risks.
What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves taking estrogen or a combination of estrogen and progesterone to relieve menopause symptoms. The benefits of HRT include improved mood and sleep, reduced risk of diabetes and colon cancer, and a reduction of health conditions caused by low estrogen, including osteoporosis.
Hormone replacement therapy helps many women handle their menopause, but it can also come with potential downsides, such as increased risk of heart disease, strokes, blood clots, and breast cancer. When choosing your treatment, make sure to talk with your doctor and weigh the benefits and drawbacks.
Menopause medications
Several other prescription medications can help with menopause symptoms. Antidepressants, for instance, may reduce hot flashes, while other drugs, like Gabapentin, originally used for epilepsy and chronic nerve pain, can be prescribed off-label to ease night sweats and sleep disturbances.
These meds won’t ease the symptoms as efficiently and holistically as hormone replacement therapy, but they also come with fewer risks.
Additional options include over-the-counter remedies, like ibuprofen for joint pain or lubricants for vaginal dryness, which can offer some much-needed relief.
Non-hormonal or natural alternatives
If you prefer natural or non-hormonal options there are other treatments to consider, each with varying degrees of effectiveness:
Massage therapy can relieve stress and anxiety, which are common during menopause. Some studies suggest that regular massage may even help reduce symptoms like hot flashes and disrupted sleep.
Acupuncture may provide short-term relief from some menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes.
Regular physical activity, including yoga, can improve mood, increase energy levels, and helps reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems.
Hypnotherapy, or clinical hypnosis, can be a powerful tool in managing menopause symptoms by helping you relax and gain control over your body’s responses to stress and hormonal changes.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help manage the emotional and psychological symptoms by altering how one relates to the experience of menopause and promoting healthier coping mechanisms.
Magnetic therapy involves using magnets to alleviate pain and improve circulation. While some women report symptom relief, scientific evidence on its effectiveness is mixed.
Adopting a healthier lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress management techniques, can make a significant difference in reducing menopause symptoms and improving overall well-being.
Products That Can Help Relieve the Symptoms of Menopause
Many products are available to help manage menopause symptoms — including some that may be HSA/FSA eligible!
Heating pads or cooling devices are a popular choice for soothing muscle aches and pains that can accompany menopause. They provide targeted relief and are often a first-line treatment for discomfort.
Herbal supplements like black cohosh or red clover are commonly used as a treatment for hot flashes and other symptoms, though it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
Home massagers and massage guns can help alleviate muscle tension and stress, which may provide some extra relief during menopause.
Here are a few partners of Flex that can help ease symptoms with innovative, natural, and non-invasive menopause treatments.
Embr Labs: Wearable temperature and menopause relief
Embr Labs’ Wave is a wearable “menopause watch” that provides on-demand temperature control, offering instant relief from hot flashes and night sweats. This non-invasive, tech-driven solution is like a personal thermometer so you can experience temperature relief wherever, whenever.
Happy V: Natural probiotic supplement for menopause
Happy V’s Menopause Probiotic Supplement blends probiotics and natural botanicals to support hormone balance and digestive health during menopause. This gentle, natural approach helps manage symptoms from the inside out, which promotes overall well-being.
Amira: Nighttime cooling relief for hot flashes
Amira offers a smart cooling mattress pad that activates when it detects you are having a hot flash. If you are tired of waking up tired and drenched in sweat, the Terra may be your key to sleeping through menopause symptoms.
Kindra: Science-backed wellness essentials for menopause
Kindra delivers science-backed, hormone-free wellness products designed to soothe menopause symptoms like dryness and mood swings. Their plant-powered solutions help you maintain balance and well-being through this life transition.
Momotaro Apotheca: Organic intimate care for menopause
Momotaro Apotheca’s organic, plant-based products offer gentle, effective care for intimate health during menopause. Free from harsh chemicals, their formulations address dryness and discomfort, ensuring confidence and comfort.
Are Heating Pads and Other Menopause Treatments HSA/FSA Eligible?
While hormone replacement therapy generally isn’t HSA/FSA eligible, many other menopause treatments are. For example, heating pads and OTC medications are HSA/FSA eligible, along with the companies we’ve partnered with above. Many other items may be eligible but will require a Letter of Medical Necessity (LOMN).
Are OTC medicines that help with menopause symptoms eligible?
Yes, over-the-counter medicines that alleviate menopause symptoms are HSA/FSA eligible.
How Flex Can Help You Pay for Menopause Treatments With Your HSA/FSA
Flex can streamline the process of paying for menopause treatments.
Step 1: Add the HSA/FSA-eligible product you want to your cart
Companies like Happy V, Embr Labs, Amira, Kindra and Momotaro Apotheca have partnered with Flex to make purchasing their products with HSA/FSA much easier.
Step 2: Select “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" at checkout
You can buy these items directly from the companies by selecting “Flex | Pay with HSA/FSA" as your payment option at checkout. You can then use either your HSA/FSA card or pay out-of-pocket with a regular credit or debit card (and receive the required documents to submit for reimbursement via email).
It’s as simple as that.
Step 3: Keep Documentation
Keep all documentation, including receipts and the Letter of Medical Necessity (should it be necessary), for tax purposes and to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.
Note that the HSA and FSA eligibility of other menopause relief items and treatments may depend on your plan, so make sure to verify with your provider first.
How it typically works to pay for menopause treatments with your HSA/FSA
If you want to purchase from a company not partnered with Flex and you require a Letter of Medical Necessity, you’ll first need to obtain one from your doctor or appropriate healthcare provider.
From there, you will have to pay out-of-pocket first and submit a claim for reimbursement. Be sure to include your receipt and the letter of medical necessity when filing the claim. As always, keep all documentation for tax purposes and to ensure compliance with IRS regulations.
Menopause Relief: Manage Symptoms and Savings With Your HSA or FSA
Menopause can be a challenging transitionary period, but it can also be eased with therapies and interventions — many of which are HSA and FSA eligible. We hope these treatments help you on your journey, but if you experience particularly difficult or uncomfortable symptoms, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.
Flex is the easiest way for direct to consumer brands and retailers to accept HSA/FSA for their products. From fitness and nutrition, to sleep and mental health, Flex takes a holistic view of healthcare and enables consumers to use their pre-tax money to do the same.