Motion Sickness Medicine: FSA Eligibility

Motion sickness medicine is eligible with a prescription by a medical doctor for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). Motion sickness medicine is not eligible with a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited care flexible spending account (LCFSA).

What is motion sickness medicine?

Motion sickness medicine is designed to treat motion sickness, which results from an imbalance in a person's visual sense of their orientation, versus their nervous-based sense of their orientation which is primarily fed by tiny assemblies in the inner ear, as well as touch sensations.

Motion sickness is most common on boats, in cars, and on airplanes.

One of the most common motion sickness aids is called Dramamine, which reduces the symptoms of motion sickness such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Dramamine has several side effects such as drowsiness, headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus, mouth and respiratory passage dryness, and dizziness.

Meclizine is another motion sickness medicine. It is an antihistamine and antiemetic that reduces nausea, and an antispasmodic that reduces muscle spasms. Meclizine reduces activity in the portion of the brain that controls nausea, and this is how it addresses the symptoms of motion sickness.

Other motion sickness medicines include dermal patches that can be applied to the skin.

Because motion sickness medicine is a drug that contains a medicine, it must be prescribed by a medical doctor in order to be considered eligible for reimbursement with a consumer-directed healthcare account. A medical doctor will be able to prescribe one of several options for motion sickness treatment based on an understanding the patient's symptoms and needs. Different motion sickness medicines work in different ways, or may require different amounts of planning or preparation. Some motion sickness medicines work best if taken before an expected episode of motion sickness takes place, such as before a boat ride. Other motion sickness medicines are effective when taken in response to motion sickness after its onset.

Eligibility Table



Eligible with Rx

Eligible with LMN

Not Eligible


Specifically Not Covered

Not eligible without a prescription.

Legal Information / Regulations



AZ-PROD-WEB01 2/20/2018 9:06:28 PM