# Eligibility data

> For AI agents: this page is also Markdown at [/developers/eligibility-data.md](https://www.hsatrackr.com/developers/eligibility-data.md). Every docs page is listed in [/developers/llms.txt](https://www.hsatrackr.com/developers/llms.txt).

What the 233 eligibility rulings mean, how matching works, and how many link a source.

The API serves 233 expense rulings. Each has one of three values in `eligibility`:

| Value | Count | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `eligible` | 160 | Qualifies as a medical expense under IRS rules for most people. |
| `partially` | 46 | Qualifies only in some cases, often with a Letter of Medical Necessity or a diagnosis. See `requirements` and `conditionalEvidenceTypes`. |
| `ineligible` | 27 | Does not qualify. Paying for it from an HSA is a taxable, possibly penalized, distribution. |

## Sources

47 of 233 rulings carry a `sourceBasis` array: each entry names a source (usually an IRS publication or IRS FAQ), links it, says what part of the ruling it supports, and gives the date we last reviewed it. The other rulings are our summaries of IRS guidance without a linked source yet. We add sources over time; keep only rulings with a non-empty `sourceBasis` if you need cited answers.

## How the check endpoint matches

- `exact`: the query is the item's name, slug or a known alias. `found` is true.
- `strong`: the query starts or contains the name, or shares its key words. `found` is true. Queries under four letters count only as whole words (`ivf` yes, `pt` no).
- Anything weaker never answers. `found` is false, `match` is null, and up to three weak hits appear in `alternatives` for a "did you mean". `searchUrl` points to the full search.

Phrases like "is", "HSA eligible" and "can I use my HSA for" are stripped before matching, so you can pass the user's question as typed.

## Freshness

`meta.updated` is the date this API build was published, not a per-record review date. Each `sourceBasis` entry has its own `reviewedDate`. Contribution limits come from the IRS revenue procedure for each year.

> Not tax advice. A ruling describes the general rule, not your plan's rules.