Get Tax Free Prepping Supplies with your HSA
How’s it going, everybody? Welcome back.
Let me ask you something: are you interested in sticking it to the man when it comes to taxes? Yeah, me too. The system takes (steals) enough from us as it is, so any chance to play the game and keep a little more of our hard earned money, I’m all in. And today, I want to show you how to do exactly that while stacking up prepping gear.
Simply put? Use income the government can’t tax you on to stock up your prepping medical supplies!
The trick? Using tax-deferred money through a Health Savings Account (HSA).
Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm9fqLwilSg
What’s an HSA and Why Should You Care?
If you’re on a high-deductible health insurance plan (we’re talking $6,000–$7,000 deductibles here), then you’re eligible for an HSA. With an HSA, you can stash away $6,000–$7,500 every single year, and the money goes in tax-free.
Here’s a quick example:
- Let’s say you make $50,000 a year. Normally, Uncle Sam wants his cut of that full $50k.
- But if you put $6,000 into your HSA, suddenly you’re only taxed on $44,000.
That’s like an automatic discount. Sure, it’s technically your money, you’re just keeping the government from snatching it up. But hey, if the rules let us play, why not play?
And here’s where it gets good: you can spend that tax-deferred money on all kinds of health-related items that double as survival and preparedness gear.
Prepping Gear You Can Buy with HSA Funds
This list is longer than I can cover in one post, but let’s hit the big ones:
- Tourniquets, pressure bandages, and vented chest seals – If you don’t already have multiple tourniquets, fix that now. I keep them everywhere, backpack, chest rig, you name it.
- First aid kits & supplies – Gauze, tape, splints, braces, and even medical water purification tablets if they’re labeled for first-aid use.
- AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) – These life-savers are expensive, but with HSA money, the sting doesn’t hurt as much.
- CPR masks, respirators, crutches, and canes – Practical items that can save lives in a grid-down or disaster scenario.
- Menstrual and hygiene products – Ladies, stock up tax-free.
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen, EpiPens, inhalers, insulin – Critical in real-world emergencies.
And the list goes on!
Why This Matters
I’ve seen firsthand how vital these supplies are. During Hurricane Helen in North Carolina, I worked alongside a nurse running a makeshift medical aid station. The top request? Insulin. People were showing up on the verge of diabetic comas because the local pharmacies got wiped out. Inhalers came in second, along with EpiPens.
When disaster hits, it’s the basics, medicine, inhalers, insulin, EpiPens, that people are desperate for. And you can stockpile them with HSA funds now, instead of scrambling when it’s too late.
Over-the-Counter Meds Are Covered Too
Thanks to the CARES Act of 2020, you can also grab:
- Pain relievers
- Cold and flu meds
- Antihistamines
- Anti-diarrheals
Basically, all the small but important stuff that runs out fast when shelves go empty.
What’s Not Covered
Now, don’t get too excited. HSAs won’t cover the fun tactical side of prepping. That means:
- Freeze-dried food & MREs
- Generators
- Water storage containers (unless marked as medical disinfectant tablets)
- Firearms, ammo, body armor, chest rigs
Yeah, all the “cool” stuff we love is off the table. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be smart and use the system to your advantage.
Final Thoughts
Look, HSAs are different from company to company, so check your plan before swiping that card. Personally, I use Fidelity, and they pretty much green-light everything. Works for me, if I can use untaxed money for prepping gear, that’s a win in my book.
Bottom line: don’t let the government steal more of your income than they already do. Use your HSA to stock up on life-saving supplies now, while you can.
Stay strong, stay prepped, and I’ll see you in the next one. James Burnett Out.
