Meals of a companion: HSA Eligibility

What are meals of a companion?

Meals of a companion, even if that companion is attending a patient undergoing necessary medical treatment, are not eligible for reimbursement with any consumer-directed healthcare account. Meals of a companion, such as a large sandwich or slightly spicy bowl of pasta, cannot be included in any reimbursement requests under consumer-directed healthcare accounts. Hypothetically, the meal of a medical patient which is not then fully consumed by that medical patient could be consumed by another, even a companion. If this meal were reimbursed with a consumer-directed healthcare account, the consumption of the meal might be considered against the spirit of the What are meals of a companion What are meals of a companion Internal Revenue Service (IRS) legislation governing eligible reimbursements with consumer-directed healthcare accounts.

Even if a companion is accompanying a patient for medical reasons, they cannot purchase meals and have the expenses reimbursed. Companions must pay for their own meals, or seek other sources of funding or nourishment. There are many nourishment options available in such a situation, such as nutritional shakes, dry noodles, trail mix, leftovers, and so on. Sustaining a companion whose presence is part of a necessary medical trip does not necessarily have to result in financial hardship.