Do I need my name on a store receipt for FSA claim on allergy medication?

You can absolutely submit your Kroger receipt for FSA reimbursement of the allergy medication! The rules changed a few years ago making it easier to claim OTC medications without prescriptions. Here's what you need to know: Your FSA administrator doesn't necessarily need to see your name on the receipt, but they do need clear documentation that you purchased an FSA-eligible item. The receipt should show the date of purchase, the vendor name (Kroger), the specific product (Claritin or whatever allergy medication), and the amount paid. I recommend circling the eligible item on the receipt before submitting it. Also, make sure the receipt clearly states what the product is - sometimes receipts just show abbreviated product codes that aren't descriptive. If that's the case, you might need to include the item's packaging or take a photo of the product to submit with your claim.

I've been dealing with this exact situation for years! I found out about taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after struggling with a bunch of FSA claims that got rejected. It's been incredibly helpful for making sure my documentation is right before submitting. What I do now is take a picture of the receipt with my phone, upload it to taxr.ai, and it tells me if the documentation is sufficient for FSA claims. It actually saved me last month when I bought some eligible sunscreen but the receipt just had a vague product code. The tool flagged it and recommended I also submit a photo of the product label to show it was the SPF 50+ medical-grade type that's FSA eligible.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I tried it after asking about it here and it's been a game changer for me! I uploaded about 15 different receipts I was unsure about (mix of prescriptions, OTC meds, and some questionable items like vitamins). The tool immediately identified which ones were good to go and which needed additional documentation. For my Walgreens receipts that had vague descriptions, it suggested I add a photo of the product packaging. I submitted everything based on its recommendations and ALL my claims were approved on the first try - first time that's ever happened for me! Definitely recommend it if you're having any doubt about your FSA documentation.

If you're having trouble getting ahold of your FSA administrator (which is like, always the case for me), I started using https://claimyr.com to get through to actual humans who can answer these receipt questions. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was really frustrated after my FSA administrator rejected a bunch of my receipts for seemingly random reasons, and I spent HOURS trying to get someone on the phone. Claimyr got me connected to a real person at my FSA company in like 15 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hour wait. The agent walked me through exactly what they needed to see on my receipts and even stayed on the line while I resubmitted a few claims.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr. After responding skeptically here last week, I ended up having an urgent issue with my FSA where they denied a $340 claim for my son's orthodontic treatment saying I needed to speak to someone about additional documentation. I tried calling for two days straight and couldn't get through, so I reluctantly tried the Claimyr service. I'm not exaggerating when I say they got me through to a representative in 22 minutes when I had previously been on hold for over 90 minutes with no success. The agent helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed to resubmit, and my claim was approved yesterday. I hate admitting I was wrong, but this service actually delivers what it promises.

For the original question - I work at a pharmacy and deal with FSA stuff constantly. One tip: if your receipt doesn't clearly specify what the item is (like it just says "ALLERGYTAB" or something), you can ask the cashier at Kroger to print you a more detailed receipt. Most registers can print an itemized receipt with better descriptions if you ask. Also, take a photo of the medications next to the receipt before you leave the store. That way you have backup documentation ready if they question what exactly you purchased.

Just a heads up - make sure you're not submitting the ENTIRE grocery receipt with personal items on it. I did that once with a Target receipt that had Tylenol, diapers (FSA eligible) and also candy, soda, and random household items. My FSA administrator flagged it for review and it delayed my reimbursement by weeks. Circle just the FSA eligible items, and write the total for JUST those items. Makes the process go much smoother!!

Great advice from everyone here! I've been using my FSA for years and can confirm that regular store receipts work fine for OTC medications. One thing I'd add is to make sure you keep a copy of the receipt for your records too - not just the photo you submit. Also, @Marcus Marsh, for your specific Kroger receipt, since you mentioned the Claritin was clearly itemized as "Claritin" (not just a product code), you should be totally fine. Just circle it on the receipt and write "$18" next to it to make it crystal clear for the FSA administrator. I've submitted similar receipts from grocery stores dozens of times without any issues. The key is just making sure they can easily identify what you bought and that it's an eligible expense. Allergy medications like Claritin are definitely FSA eligible, so you shouldn't have any problems!

@Maya Patel Yes, you can definitely handwrite directly on the receipt! Most FSA administrators actually prefer when you clearly mark eligible items rather than leaving them to figure out what you're claiming. I usually use a pen or highlighter to circle the eligible items and write the amount next to them. Some people worry about "modifying" receipts, but this is actually considered helpful documentation, not tampering. You're just making it easier for the administrator to process your claim. I've been doing this for over 5 years with multiple FSA providers and never had an issue. Just make sure your handwriting is clear and legible. If you're submitting a photo of the receipt, sometimes it helps to use a darker pen so it shows up well in the image. The goal is to make the reviewer's job as easy as possible so your claim gets approved quickly!