Can you swipe your Health Equity card at Target? Let me break it down for you.

I recently got a Health Equity card through my employer’s benefits package and wanted to figure out exactly where I could use this thing. If you’re wondering whether you can roll up to Target and use your Health Equity card for that shopping spree, I’ve got answers.

Spoiler alert: Yes, you can use your Health Equity card at Target – but only for certain items.

Let’s dive into what this card actually is, what you can buy with it at Target, and some tips to avoid the awkward “your card has been declined” moment at checkout.

Health Equity Cards Explained

A Health Equity card is basically just a special Visa debit card that’s connected to your healthcare spending account – usually an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or HSA (Health Savings Account).

The beauty of these accounts? They let you set aside pre-tax dollars for medical expenses. That’s free money, people! (Well, technically it’s your money, but you don’t pay taxes on it, so it feels like free money.)

When you swipe your Health Equity card, it’s checking whether what you’re buying is an eligible medical expense. Think of it as a card with a built-in health-conscious bouncer that only lets the right purchases through.

Using Your Health Equity Card at Target

Yes, Target is absolutely one of the places where you can use your Health Equity card. But here’s the catch – you can’t buy just anything.

Target uses something called an IIAS (Inventory Information Approval System) that automatically identifies eligible healthcare items at checkout. This system ensures that your Health Equity card only works for FSA/HSA-eligible products.

So what happens when you swipe your card at Target?

If you’re only buying eligible items, the transaction goes through smoothly. If you’re buying a mix of eligible and non-eligible items, you’ll need to pay for the non-eligible stuff with another payment method.

What Can You Actually Buy at Target with Your Health Equity Card?

Target has tons of FSA/HSA-eligible items. Here’s what you can typically purchase:

• Prescription medications (obviously)
• Over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, Advil, and allergy meds
• First aid supplies like bandages, gauze, and antiseptics
• Cold and flu products
• Pain relief products including heating pads
• Contact lens solution and cases
• Pregnancy tests and fertility monitors
• Sunscreen (SPF 15+ – protect that skin!)
• Diabetic supplies
• Some vitamins and supplements (if prescribed)

What you definitely can’t buy:

• That cute throw pillow for your couch
• Groceries (unless they’re special medical foods)
• Cosmetics and general skincare
• Toilet paper (sorry)
• The latest video game to help you “recover” from your cold

Tips for Using Your Health Equity Card at Target

1. Always use it as credit, not debit. The Health Equity card doesn’t have a PIN and must be processed as credit. Don’t try to enter a PIN when prompted – just select “credit” or press “Enter” when asked for a PIN.

2. Know your balance before shopping. Nothing more embarrassing than having your card declined because you didn’t realize you only had $7.42 left in your account. Check your balance through the Health Equity mobile app or website before heading to Target.

3. Keep your receipts. Even though the system automatically approves eligible purchases, sometimes Health Equity might ask you to verify a purchase later. Better safe than sorry!

4. Separate eligible from non-eligible items when checking out. This makes it easier to pay with different payment methods if needed.

Other Places You Can Use Your Health Equity Card

Target isn’t the only retail game in town for your Health Equity card. You can also use it at:

• Other major retailers like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid
• Doctor’s offices and hospitals (for copays and deductibles)
• Dental offices (because teeth are part of healthcare too!)
• Vision providers (for glasses, contacts, and eye exams)
• Pharmacies (both chain and independent)
• Medical supply stores
• Online retailers like Amazon’s FSA/HSA store

What If Your Card Gets Declined?

It happens to the best of us. If your Health Equity card gets declined at Target, it’s usually for one of these reasons:

1. You’re trying to buy non-eligible items
2. Your account balance is too low
3. There’s a technical issue with the card or system

Don’t panic! You can always:

• Pay with another method and then submit the receipt for reimbursement later (if it’s an eligible expense)
• Ask the cashier to separate the eligible items so you can pay for just those with your Health Equity card
• Call the number on the back of your card to check your balance or resolve any issues

Final Thoughts

Using your Health Equity card at Target is super convenient when you need to stock up on medical supplies or over-the-counter medications. It saves you the hassle of paying out-of-pocket and then submitting reimbursement claims.

Just remember that this isn’t a regular credit card – it’s specifically for healthcare expenses. As much as I’d love to tell you that you can use it to buy those new AirPods (for, uh, “hearing health”), that’s unfortunately not how it works.

The good news is that Target has a huge selection of eligible items, and their IIAS system makes using your Health Equity card pretty seamless.

So next time you’re feeling under the weather, go ahead and make that Target run with your Health Equity card in hand – just leave the scented candles and throw pillows for another trip!