Tag: Otc products

According to the National Institutes of Health, sweetened beverages, which include most sodas, provide minimal nutritional value and contribute to excess calories. For this reason, and as a general rule, you cannot use your Healthy Benefits card to purchase soda, as these benefit programs are designed to cover healthy food options and approved over-the-counter (OTC) products.

The global consumer packaged goods (CPG) market is a multi-trillion dollar industry, and dietary supplements are a significant part of this massive ecosystem. While many consumers intuitively lump supplements in with other daily essentials, their classification as a CPG is based on specific market characteristics and regulatory considerations.

According to the IRS, expenses for general health are typically ineligible for FSA reimbursement. Whether probiotics are FSA eligible depends on specific criteria, primarily requiring a Letter of Medical Necessity from a healthcare provider for a diagnosed medical condition. While general wellness supplements don't qualify, targeted treatments might be covered with the correct documentation.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the Lactobacillus genus includes many of the most commonly used probiotic bacteria, and the good news is that you can absolutely buy Lactobacillus over the counter in numerous formulations. These beneficial bacteria are widely available in dietary supplements and certain fermented foods to support digestive and overall health.