Using FSA or HSA dollars on breast pumps and parts
By The Zomee Team · Updated September 25, 2026 · 4 min read
You can usually pay for a breast pump and its parts from a health flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA). The IRS lists breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation as medical expenses, which both accounts can pay for.
You don't pay federal income tax on the money you put into either account. An FSA plan decides which expenses it pays within the IRS rules, so check yours before a big purchase.
What can I buy with FSA or HSA money?
A breast pump and most of the supplies you use with it. These usually count:
- A breast pump, wearable or double electric
- Replacement parts, like breast shields, duckbill valves, diaphragms, and tubing
- Milk storage bags
What about storage bottles, bras, and nipple cream?
They're less clear than pumps and parts. IRS Publication 502 excludes the cost of excess bottles for food storage, but it doesn't say how many count as excess. It doesn't mention bras or nipple cream.
With an FSA, ask your plan administrator before you buy. With an HSA, you keep the records that show each expense qualifies.
What if insurance covers my pump?
Then your FSA or HSA can pay for what insurance doesn't. Most plans cover a breast pump, but coverage varies by plan. All four Zomee pumps may be covered.
Under IRS rules, a cost your insurance already paid isn't a qualified medical expense for either account. The account can usually pay your share of the pump's cost, replacement parts, storage bags, or a second pump you buy yourself.
For questions about your coverage, call your plan's member services number.
How do I pay with my FSA or HSA?
If you have an FSA or HSA card, try it at checkout like any debit card. Put eligible items in an order of their own, so the whole charge is an eligible expense. If the card is declined, or you don't have one, pay another way, then get reimbursed from the account.
With an FSA, the IRS requires proof of each expense from a third party, such as the seller, showing what you bought and what it cost. Some card payments meet that rule on their own. If yours doesn't, you send the plan your receipt.
With an HSA, you keep the proof. The IRS says to keep records showing the money paid for qualified medical expenses, and to store them with your tax records.
Either way, save your itemized receipt or order confirmation.
Does FSA or HSA money expire?
FSA money usually does, at the end of the plan year. HSA money doesn't.
The IRS describes FSAs as use-it-or-lose-it plans. A plan can add a grace period of up to 2½ months, or let a limited amount carry over into the next year, but not both. Your plan documents say which, if either, yours has.
For an HSA, the IRS says amounts left at the end of the year generally carry over. The account stays with you if you change jobs.
What should I buy before my FSA deadline?
Parts you'll replace anyway, and storage bags you'll use soon. We recommend replacing duckbill valves and diaphragms every 1 to 3 months, depending on how often you pump and how you clean them. On the Mother's Nature™ W1, replace diaphragms every 2 to 3 months.
You don't need FSA money for a new size. If none of the sizes included with your Zomee pump fits, we send you a pair in the size you need, free with Perfect Fit Promise™.
Where to get help
For questions about what your FSA covers, ask your plan administrator. For questions about your HSA balance or a reimbursement, ask your HSA provider. For tax advice about your own situation, talk to a tax professional.
For pump, sizing, parts, and support questions, call The Mom Line™ at 1-888-662-7159. Real moms and certified lactation consultants answer it.
Questions moms ask
Are Zomee pumps FSA and HSA eligible?
Usually, yes. The Mother's Nature™ W1 and H1, the Zomee Fit, and the Zomee Z2 are all breast pumps, and the IRS lists breast pumps as a medical expense without naming a style.
Are pump bundles FSA or HSA eligible?
Usually, when everything in the bundle is pumping gear, like the Zomee Z2 Pump & Hands-Free Collection Cups Bundle. Some bundles also include a bag, a cooler, or a changing pad, which may not count. If you pay from an FSA, check those items with your plan administrator.
Can I use my whole FSA amount at the start of the plan year?
Yes. The IRS requires a health FSA to let you use the full amount you chose for the year at any time during the plan year, no matter how much you've contributed so far.
Can I pay now and reimburse myself from my HSA later?
Yes, if you made the purchase after you opened your HSA. The IRS says you don't have to make withdrawals from your HSA each year.
Can I use my dependent care FSA for a breast pump?
No. The IRS describes dependent care benefits as paying for your child's care while you work. A breast pump is a medical expense, so pay for it from a health FSA or an HSA.
