Health-E Commerce Leverages Power of Brand Collaboration to Launch Industry-Leading Consumer Protection Initiative Called "Health-E Guidelines"
New Guidelines to Prioritize Product Authenticity and Direct-to-Consumer Sourcing for Tax-Advantaged Health and Wellness Account Users
NEW YORK, June 25, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Health-E Commerce, the parent company to FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com, WellDeservedHealth.com and Caring Mill, announced the "Health-E Guidelines," which provides guidance on standards necessary to operate a consumer-centered business in the tax-free health space. This is the industry's first consumer protection initiative designed to tackle issues that affect Americans with tax-advantaged health and wellness accounts. The Health-E Guidelines help advance issues that matter to the manufacturer and consumer communities, such as product authenticity standards, adherence to Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) and consumer product safety. The Guidelines are put out in partnership with the company's Health-E Committee, an advisory council that includes founding members Brownmed, KT Tape, Tender Corporation, and MD SolarSciences Corp. The Committee also collaborates closely with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).
"Consumers should have certain expectations when shopping for their health and wellness needs: that products are responsibly sourced, safe to use, and work as intended," said Jeremy Miller, CEO and Founder of Health-E Commerce. "Third-party sellers and product diversion are issues that affect vendors and consumers alike, and the Health-E Guidelines are our first step to take what we've learned from nearly 10 years in the tax-advantaged health care space to safeguard FSA, HSA and wellness program shoppers, and join with our valued manufacturer partners to advance these initiatives."
- Health-E Guidelines set the standard for the tax-advantaged health and wellness industry
As the health and wellness industry becomes closer tied to the employee benefits space, and a growing number of workers are taking an interest in their long-term wellness, tackling the problems surrounding product authenticity is critical to promoting the desired health outcomes for the growing number of pre-tax shoppers.
With the rise of online marketplaces, buying safe, authentic health products is no longer guaranteed. It's hard to ensure proper storage, product sourcing or packaging when working through third parties, where strict adherence to company standards and practices is not required. There are no guarantees that the merchandise is not expired, spoiled, counterfeit or even stolen. The absence of these standards can be potentially dangerous to the health of customers, who may have unknowingly received and been using inauthentic products or cheap imitations to treat a health condition.
The Health-E Guidelines represent an industry-first effort to put pro-consumer initiatives into practice so they can inform the larger health and wellness industry and better serve the 60+ million plus tax-advantaged health care users nationwide.
To operate responsibly in the tax-free health benefits space, Health-E Commerce recommends that brands or manufacturers who market products to these consumers should uphold the following business practices:
- Adherence to IRS Eligibility Requirements
We are committed to selling eligible health and wellness products in a manner that adheres to the IRS' definition of qualified health expenses. Health-E Commerce brands are dedicated to advancing safe and reliable means for consumers to purchase qualifying health and wellness products with their tax-free dollars.
- Direct-to-Manufacturer Relationships Ensure Product Authenticity
Health-E Commerce always sources products directly from manufacturers to ensure customers receive safe, effective, authentic health products to support their overall wellness and the well-being of their families. We never work with third-party resellers to guarantee the products we sell are up-to-date, responsibly sourced and safe to use.
- Advocates for Consumer-Directed Health Care Preservation and Expansion
Health-E Commerce knows how vital tax-free health care accounts are for working families. We support the continued expansion of these accounts to improve health outcomes and prevention via products and services eligible with pre-tax health care dollars.
- A Compliance-First Approach
Compliance with industry regulations is built into every facet of what it means to be a Health-E Commerce brand. By guaranteeing proper benefit card payment processing, maintaining accurate on-site information, correct product classification, and clear, accurate marketing language, Health-E Commerce brands help consumers avoid common tax-free health care pitfalls and make these benefits an integral part of their health and financial wellness.
- Empower Consumers to Make Informed Health Decisions
Health-E Commerce brand customers are not left alone to navigate the complex world of tax-free health care. Health-E Commerce brands are backed by 24/7 FSA-certified customer support and the web's most comprehensive selection of FSA/HSA tools and educational resources to help individuals and families learn how to benefit better from their benefits.
To learn more about each of these guidelines or for more information about how to join this effort to improve consumer-directed health care, please visit the Health-E Commerce website.
About Health-E Commerce
Health-E Commerce is the parent company of FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com and WellDeservedHealth, a family of brands that serve the 60+ million consumers with pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company has also created Caring Mill, a popular private-label line of health products that benefits Children's Health Fund and enables customers to make a donation with each purchase. Since 2010, the company's brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the IRS-approved list of eligible medical expenses like sunscreen and breast pumps. The company leads a committee of industry experts to promote the important national conversation around product safety and authenticity.
SOURCE Health-E Commerce
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