Skip to main content
  • Duke@Work
  • About HR
  • Managers
Home

Human Resources

Search form

  • Careers
    • Search/Apply for Jobs
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Duke Temporary Service (DTS)
    • About Duke
    • Job Descriptions
    • Affirmative Action & Nondiscrimination
  • Benefits
    • Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits
    • Reimbursement Accounts
    • Employee Discounts
    • Retirement
    • Time Away From Duke
    • Educational Benefits
    • Family-Friendly Benefits
    • Financial Security Benefits
    • Benefits Unique to Duke
    • Employee Appreciation
    • Benefits Enrollment
    • Summary Plan Descriptions & Required Notices
  • Health & Wellness
    • Get Moving Challenge
    • LIVE FOR LIFE
    • Health Assessments
    • Farmers Market
    • Mobile Farmers Market
    • Duke Fitness Club
    • Run/Walk Club
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Mental Health & Stress
    • Webinars
    • Personal Assistance Service (PAS)
    • Health Coaching Programs
    • Nutrition Programs
    • Tobacco Cessation
    • DukeWELL
    • Employee Occupational Health & Wellness (EOHW)
    • Workers' Compensation
  • Compensation
    • Pay Statements
    • Pay Schedules & Forms
    • Pay Ranges & Job Classifications
    • Overtime Changes
  • Training
    • Learning Management System
    • Professional Development Course Offerings
    • Special Development Programs
    • Career Resource Center
    • Consulting & Organization Development
    • Location & Facilities
  • Policies
    • Recruitment, Hiring, & Transferring
    • Diversity & Institutional Equity
    • Workplace Expectations & Guidelines
    • Staff Development
    • Benefits
    • Pay Administration
    • Payroll
    • Time Away From Duke
    • Workplace Health & Safety
    • International
    • Definitions
  • Forms
    • Benefits Forms
    • Manager Forms

You are here

  • Home
  • Benefits
  • Reimbursement Accounts
  • Health Care Account
  • Eligible & Ineligible Expenses

Eligible & Ineligible Health Care Reimbursement Account Expenses

In the box below are some examples of out-of-pocket expenses eligible or not eligible for reimbursement from the Health Care Reimbursement Account. This is not a complete list. To view a full list, contact HealthEquity, the company that manages Duke's reimbursement accounts, at 1-877-924-3967, or refer to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 502, available by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM or by accessing the IRS website. You may also reference the HealthEquity website to help determine whether an expense is qualified.

Expenses Eligible for Reimbursement

  • Acupuncture
  • Alcoholism treatment
  • Ambulance fees
  • Car controls for the disabled
  • Chiropractor fees
  • Contact lenses and cleaning solutions
  • Co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance not covered by insurance
  • Eyeglasses
  • Feminine hygiene care
  • Guide dogs
  • Hearing aids
  • Lab fees
  • Lamaze classes for expectant mothers
  • Menstrual care products
  • Orthodontia expenses
  • Over-the-counter medications
  • Oxygen
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
    • Face masks
    • Hand sanitizer
    • Hand sanitizing wipes
  • Prescription medications*
  • Smoking cessation program fees and prescription drugs
  • Varicose vein treatment
  • Wheelchairs
  • X-rays

Expenses NOT Eligible for Reimbursement (per IRS)

  • Babysitting & child care
  • Calcium supplements (requires Letter of Medical Necessity)
  • Cancelled appointment fees
  • COBRA premiums
  • Cosmetic surgery procedures
  • Electrolysis
  • Exercise equipment (unless physician certified as part of treatment program)
  • Face masks with vents and/or valves
  • Face shields
  • Fitness programs
  • Gaiters
  • Hair transplant
  • Herbs & herbal medicines
  • Insurance premiums
  • Personal trainer
  • Sanitizing wipes for surfaces (i.e. Clorox Wipes & Lysol Wipes)
  • Student health premiums
  • Tattoo removal
  • Teeth whitening/bleaching
  • Toiletries
  • Vitamins (unless prescribed by physician) (requires Letter of Medical Necessity)
  • Weight loss programs and/or drugs (unless prescribed by physician) (requires Letter of Medical Necessity)

"Maybe" Eligible Health Care Expenses

Certain expenses require additional information in order to determine if they qualify. Products and services classified as "Maybe" require a written statement from your health care provider indicating (1) the diagnosis and (2) the medical necessity of the expense. Specialized items also require proof of the difference in cost of (1) the standard, unmodified item, and (2) the special or modified item. If you incur an expense that is classified as "Maybe" you will need to submit the above documentation with your claim.

Allergy treatments
Alternative dietary supplements*
Alternative drugs and medicines*
Alternative healers*
Braille books and magazines (difference in cost only)
Breast reconstruction surgery (following mastectomy)
Calcium supplements
Car modifications*
Cord blood storage (for future treatment of a birth defect or known medical condition)
Dancing lessons*
Dental products (for treatment of a dental condition, not general health)
Dental veneers
Dietary supplements*
Exercise equipment*
Fitness programs*
Health club dues*
Home improvements*
Humidifier, air filter and supplies
Lodging (essential to receive medical care)
Massage therapy*
Medical supplies*
Modified equipment ((difference in cost only)
Nutritional supplements*
Orthopedic shoes and inserts (difference in cost only of specialized orthopedic shoe over like non-specialized shoe)
Propecia*
Reconstructive surgery (following accident or medical procedure or condition)
Retin-A (for non-cosmetic purposes)
Rogaine or other hair regrowth medications*
Special equipment
Special foods (gluten-free, salt-free or other for treatment of a medical condition)
Special school (for mental and physical disabilities)
Supplies*
Swimming lessons*
Transgender treatments/surgery
Transportation, parking and related travel expenses (essential to receive medical care)
Weight loss counseling
Weight loss program or drugs*

*As required for treatment for a medical condition diagnosed by a licensed health care professional.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, & Vision Benefits
    • Medical Insurance
      • Plan Comparison (2023)
      • Plan Comparison (2022)
      • Premiums (2023)
      • Premiums (2022)
      • HMO Plans
      • PPO Plan
      • Medical Benefits Abroad
      • Retiree Health Insurance
        • Duke Plus
        • Early Retiree Health Plans
      • Health Management Programs
      • Infertility Benefits
      • Bariatric Surgery
      • 1095-C Tax Form
    • Dental Insurance
      • Plan Comparison (2023)
      • Plan Comparison (2022)
      • Premiums (2023)
      • Premiums (2022)
    • Vision Insurance
      • Plan Chart (2023)
      • Plan Chart (2022)
      • Premiums (2023)
      • Premiums (2022)
      • How to Use the Plan
    • Pharmacy Benefits
      • Covered Drugs
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Retail Pharmacy Vaccinations
    • Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Benefits
      • Providers
      • Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Enroll/Make Changes
    • Coverage & Eligibility
    • Find a Network Provider
    • Privacy Practices
    • Required Notices
  • Reimbursement Accounts
    • Your Personal Account
    • Health Care Account
      • How to File a Claim
      • How to Manage Your Account
      • Health Care Card
      • Eligible & Ineligible Expenses
      • Orthodontia
      • IRS Rules
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • IIAS-Compliant Merchants
    • Dependent Care Account
      • How to File a Claim
      • What's Covered?
      • Managing Your Account
    • How the Plan Works
    • EZ Receipts Mobile App
    • Appeal a Denied Claim
    • When Participation Ends
    • Legal Information
    • Changes for 2020 and 2021 Reimbursement Accounts
  • Employee Discounts
    • Vendor Registration Form
    • Vendor Information
  • Retirement
    • About Duke's Plans
      • Employees' Retirement Plan (Non-Exempt)
      • Faculty/Staff Retirement Plan (Non-Exempt)
      • Faculty/Staff Retirement Plan (Exempt)
        • Duke's Contribution
        • Service Requirement Waiver
      • 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
    • Enroll or Make Changes
      • Enroll in Your Duke Retirement Plan
      • Making Changes
      • Roth 403(b) Contributions
      • Vesting of Duke's Contribution
      • Transfer Funds
      • Request a Withdrawal or Loan
    • Tiered Investment Choices
      • Target Date Funds
      • Your Default Investment Options
      • Self-Directed Brokerage Account (BrokerageLink®)
      • TIAA Traditional Annuity
    • Investment Carriers
    • Investment Performance
    • Retirement Planning
      • Retirement Planning Guide
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recent Fund Changes
    • Retirement Appointment Request
    • Your Duke Retirement Plans at a Glance
  • Time Away From Duke
    • Holidays, Vacation & Sick Time (University)
      • Holiday Schedule (2023)
    • Paid Time Off (DUHS)
      • How it Works
      • Time & Attendance
      • Swipe & Go
      • Policies
      • Banks
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Glossary
    • Leaves of Absence
      • University - Employee FMLA
      • University - Family FMLA
      • Health System Employee/Family FMLA
      • Care for Injured Service Member (FMLA)
      • Qualifying Exigency (FMLA)
      • Leaves of Absence: Effects on Benefits
    • Paid Parental Leave
      • Paid Parental Leave Changes - August 3, 2020
    • Kiel Memorial Vacation/PTO Donation Program
      • Donations
      • Recipients
      • Important Timelines
      • Payment Process
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Other Work Absences
  • Educational Benefits
    • Employee Tuition Assistance
      • Eligibility
      • How to Apply
      • Reimbursement
      • Departmental/Manager Responsibility
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • July 2023 Enhancements
    • Children's Tuition Grant
      • How to Apply
      • Employee Eligibility
      • Child Eligibility
      • Online Application for Participating Schools
    • Undergraduate Admissions Workshops
  • Family-Friendly Benefits
    • Lactation Support Services
    • Duke Child Care Partnership
    • Duke Children's Campus
      • Part Time Childcare Procedures
    • The Little School at Duke
      • Wait Pool Registration
    • Choosing Child Care
    • Child Care Tuition Subsidy
    • Flexible Work Options
      • Flextime
      • Compressed Work Schedules
      • Job Sharing
      • Abbreviated Schedule or Part-Time Work
      • 10- and 9-Month Arrangements
      • How to Introduce
      • Guidelines for Success
      • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Financial Security Benefits
    • Financial Fitness Week
    • Plan Comparison
    • Disability Benefits
      • Duke Disability
        • Eligibility
        • When Am I Covered?
        • Filing for Benefits
        • Amount of Coverage
        • Benefits While Disabled
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Voluntary Disability
        • Short Term Disability
        • Long Term Disability
        • Choosing Coverage
        • Enrollment
        • Cost
        • How to File a Claim
        • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Department Manager & Payroll Representative Info
    • Life Insurance
      • Basic Life Insurance
      • Supplemental Life Insurance
        • Supplemental Life Insurance Rate Table
      • Personal Accident Insurance
        • Eligibility
        • Coverage
        • Benefits
      • Business Travel Assistance
        • Stateside Travel
        • Travel/Accident Insurance
      • Insurance Certificate
      • Post-Retirement Group Term Life Insurance
      • Survivor Benefit
      • Universal Life Insurance
      • Plan Information
      • Your ERISA Rights
    • Long Term Care Insurance
    • Property Insurance
    • Duke Credit Union
  • Benefits Unique to Duke
  • Employee Appreciation
    • Presidential Award
    • Career Service Awards
  • Benefits Enrollment
    • Information for 4th Quarter (Oct - Dec) New Hires
    • Contact a Plan Provider
    • When Can I Enroll?
    • Life Events Information
      • Getting Married
      • Getting Divorced
      • New Child
      • Death in the Family
      • Leaving Duke
        • COBRA Continuation Insurance
        • Eligibility for Retiree Health
        • Severance Overview
    • Same Sex Spousal Equivalent Information
      • Reimbursement Accounts
    • Benefits Payroll Deduction Schedule
  • Summary Plan Descriptions & Required Notices
    • Summary Annual Report for the Welfare & Fringe Benefits Plan
    • Summary Annual Report for Faculty/Staff Retirement Plan
    • Summary Annual Report for the Retiree Health Plan
    • Summary of Material Modification

Human Resources

Duke Human Resources
705 Broad St. Box 90496
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 684-5600
Have questions?

Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
Duke University
  • Duke University
  • Working@Duke