# Plain Language Summary: Oral Health Products Inclusion Act

Right now, if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)—special accounts that let you set aside pre-tax money for medical expenses—you can use that money to pay for things like doctor visits, prescription medications, and dental work. But you can't use it for everyday oral care products like toothbrushes, dental floss, or over-the-counter mouthwash, even though these products help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. This bill changes that by allowing you to buy these common dental care items with your HSA or FSA funds.

Specifically, the bill adds toothbrushes (both manual and electric), water flossers, and certain over-the-counter oral healthcare products—like fluoride rinses and products that fight plaque or gum disease—to the list of approved medical expenses. This means if you have one of these accounts, you could use your pre-tax dollars to purchase these items instead of paying for them with after-tax money from your regular paycheck. For someone with an FSA, this could save them money since they're using tax-free dollars. The bill applies to HSAs, FSAs, and similar health reimbursement arrangements that employers offer.

The practical impact is fairly straightforward: people who participate in these tax-advantaged health accounts would get a small financial break on routine oral care products. It's a modest change that recognizes dental health as part of overall medical care, but it only helps people who already have access to these accounts through their employers or who set them up individually. The savings would depend on how much someone spends on these products annually, but for someone buying electric toothbrushes and dental products regularly, it could add up.

Oral Health Products Inclusion Act

Van Drew, Jefferson

Oral Health Products Inclusion ActThis bill allows individuals to use funds in a flexible spending arrangement (FSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), health savings account (HSA), or Archer medical savings account (Archer MSA) to pay for toothbrushes (manual or electric), water flossers, and oral health products.Under current law, reimbursements from an FSA or HRA and tax-free distributions from an HSA or Archer MSA may be used to pay for the qualified medical expenses. Reimbursements from an FSA or HRA for nonmedical expenses generally are not allowed and distributions from an HSA or Archer MSA for nonmedical expenses generally are taxed as income and may be subject to an additional penalty.Under the bill, the definition of qualified medical expenses is expanded to include toothbrushes (manual or electric), water flossers, and oral health products.The bill defines an oral health product as an over-the-counter product that is (1) used for preventing or treating dental cavities, plaque, or gingivitis;&nbsp;(2) suitable for topical administration to the teeth or gums; and (3) generally recognized as safe and effective.&nbsp;