The IRS has announced that amounts paid for certain personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes, for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 to be treated as amounts paid for medical care. This means that PPE can now be reimbursed with FSAs, HSAs and HRAs. These expenses are reimbursable for the participant as well as their spouse and dependents. The IRS has issued this additional guidance with the goal of increasing flexibility surrounding health care purchases and reimbursements as much as possible during the pandemic.

Click here for a link to IRS Notice 2021-7: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-21-07.pdf