What are eligible expenses that can be claimed on my HSA?

In general, expenses are eligible for reimbursement if they would qualify as a medical expense tax credit under the Income Tax Act of Canada.

Examples of eligible health care expenses include:

  • Medical treatment by a licensed professional
    • therefore this also includes massage therapy performed by a registered massage therapist, and even Dr Bernstein's Weight Loss program (since the services are administered by registered physicians and nurses).
  • Dental and orthodontic treatments by a licensed dentist
  • Laser eye surgery
  • Physiotherapy
  • Out-of-country medical
  • Acupuncture
  • Unpaid spousal benefit coordination
  • Prescription medication (a DIN and RX number is required)
    • this includes prescription sunglasses

Here's the full list

General Services

Any service performed by a qualified medical/dental practitioner, including but not limited to the following:

Acupuncturist, Chiropractor, Cosmetic Surgeon (some conditions apply *), Dermatologist, Naturopath, Obstetrician, Ophthalmologist, Optician, Orthodontist, Osteopath, Physician, Plastic Surgeon (some conditions apply *), Practical Nurse (for medical services), Psychoanalyst, Registered Nurse, Surgeon, Chiropodist, Christian Science Practitioner, Dentist, Gynecologist, Neurologist, Oculist, Optical (all services), Optometrist, Orthopedist, Pediatrician, Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Speech Therapist, Therapist

Note: A qualified medical practitioner means a person who is authorized to practice in accordance to the laws of the province and certified according to the practitioner’s governing body.

* As of March 4, 2010, expenses for purely cosmetic procedures and/or surgery are no longer eligible. If the procedure / surgery is medically necessary due to injury, deformity, accident or trauma (including psychological) a letter from a medical practitioner stating the medical reason for the procedure is required.

 

All Dental Services

Dental X-Rays, Examinations, Filling teeth, Oral surgery, Replacement filling, Denture repairs and replacement, Extracting teeth, Gum treatment, Orthodontist, Straightening teeth

 

Hospital Services

Anesthetist, Oxygen Masks/Tents, Vaccines, Hospital bills, Use of operating room, X-Ray Technician

 

Prescribed Medical Treatments

Audiology, Bone Marrow Transplant, Electric shock treatments, Hydrotherapy, Insulin treatments, Physiotherapy, Radium Therapy, Speech Pathology, Whirlpool baths, Blood transfusion, Diathermy Nursing, Healing services, Injections, Organ Transplant, Pre-natal/post-natal treatments, Registered Nurse, Ultra-violet ray treatments, X-Ray treatments

 

Materials and Apparatus which are Prescribed by a Recognized Medical Practitioner

Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses, Hospital beds if required in home, Infusion pumps for diabetics, including peripherals,

External Breast prosthesis, Heart monitors or pace makers, Inductive coupling, Monitors attached to babies identified as being prone to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Optical scanners or similar devices to enable a blind individual to read print, Osteogenesis stimulator, Prescription medications, Television closed captioning decoders, Orthopedic shoes or boots, Oxygen tent Syringes, Wigs, if required as a result of disease, accident or medical treatment

 

Devices Designed and/or Used for the following:

  • Assist walking where the individual has mobility impairment
  • Enable individuals with a mobility impairment to operate a vehicle 
  • Assist a person to use bathtubs/showers/toilets 
  • Extremity pumps or elastic support hose to reduce lymph edema swelling
  • Enable deaf or mute persons to make and receive telephone calls including visual ringing indicators, acoustic coupler or teletypes
  • Used by individuals suffering from a chronic respiratory ailment or chronic immune system deregulation
  • Synthetic speech systems
  • Braille printers and large print-onscreen devices that enable the blind to utilize computers
  • Electronic or computerized environmental control systems for individuals with severe and prolonged mobility restrictions
  • Electronic speech synthesizers for mute individuals
  • Power operated guided chair installation for stairways
  • Power operated guided lifts and transportation equipment allowing access to buildings, vehicles or to allow wheelchair access to a vehicle

 

Other Materials and Apparatus which don't require a Prescription

  • Artificial eyes
  • Artificial limbs
  • Blood sugar level measuring devices for diabetics
  • Catheters, catheter trays, tubing , diapers, disposable briefs required by incontinent persons
  • Hernia truss
  • Iron lung
  • Spinal brace
  • Artificial kidney machine, including installation, operating costs
  • Brace for a limb
  • Colostomy pads
  • Crutches
  • Ileostomy pads
  • Laryngeal speaking aid
  • Wheelchair
  • Any apparatus or material, paid to a doctor, nurse or hospital
  • Any device to aid the hearing of a deaf person including bone conduction, telephone receivers, extra loud audible signals and devices to permit volume adjustment of telephone equipment above normal levels

 

Other Expenditures

  • Specially trained animals to assist blind, deaf or severely impaired persons, including the cost of its care and maintenance
  • Transportation costs to hospital, clinic or doctor’s office to obtain services not otherwise available
  • Homemaker service
  • Home care (attendant must be a non-relative)
  • Reasonable costs for adapting a residence to accommodate a disabled person (ex. Wheelchair ramp, lifts, bath facilities)
  • Prescription Birth Control pills
  • Ambulance charges
  • Rehabilitative therapy
  • Lip reading
  • Sign language training
  • Transportation, meals and accommodations (reasonable expenses for meals, accommodation and travel costs for a patient and an accompanying attendant may be deductible if: equivalent medical services are not available locally, the route traveled is reasonably direct and medical treatment is reasonable and distance traveled is at least 80 kilometers)