IRS Provides Guidance on Personal Protective Equipment as Medical Expense

The IRS has issued Announcement 2021-7, indicating that amounts paid for personal protective equipment (PPE)—such as masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes—that are primarily used to prevent the spread of COVID-19, are treated as amounts paid for medical care under Internal Revenue Code Section 213(d). As a result, the amounts are also eligible to be paid or reimbursed under health flexible spending arrangements (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), and health savings accounts (HSAs).

Group health plans—including health FSAs and HRAs—may be amended pursuant to this announcement to provide for reimbursement of COVID-19 PPE expenses incurred for any period beginning on or after January 1, 2020. Employers choosing to amend their plans must do so by the last day of the first calendar year beginning after the end of the plan year in which the amendment is effective. Retroactive amendments are not permitted after December 31, 2022.