US Medical Term · financial
Qualified Medical Expense
Gasto Médico Calificado
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Qualified Medical Expense |
| Spanish (Español) | Gasto Médico Calificado |
| Chinese (中文) | 合格医疗费用 |
| Korean (한국어) | 적격 의료 비용 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chi phí Y tế Đủ điều kiện |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Kwalipikadong Gastos sa Medikal |
| Portuguese (Português) | Despesa Médica Qualificada |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ค่าใช้จ่ายทางการแพทย์ที่มีคุณสมบัติ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 適格医療費 |
What it means
A qualified medical expense is a healthcare cost defined by the IRS under Section 213(d) that can be paid tax-free from a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). Qualifying expenses include doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, and many over-the-counter items. Cosmetic procedures and gym memberships are generally not qualified. Using HSA funds for non-qualified expenses triggers income tax plus a 20% penalty for holders under age 65. IRS Publication 502 provides the complete list of qualifying expenses.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
KWOL-ih-fyd MED-ih-kul ek-SPENS
gasto médico calificado
Often called an 'HSA-eligible expense' or 'QME'
A menudo llamado 'gasto elegible para HSA'
You may ask your HSA administrator: 'Is this a qualified medical expense?'
'¿Es este un gasto médico calificado para mi HSA?'
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026