It’s that time of year again: the time of year when you realize that you still have a bunch of money sitting in your FSA account, all unspent and ready to be snatched up by The Man. Now, my family actually has the magic ability to guarantee that there will be an ER trip in the days leading up to the new year – all we have to do is book a trip to Ohio, and bam: full-family stomach flus and broken bones abound), but unless you’re similarly blessed, you might be wondering how to use up your tax-free health bucks.
First, here are a few important points to consider:
- If you have leftover money in your FSA, your plan likely permits you to either roll a max of $500 into the next calendar year, or to continue using your existing funds for 2 1/2 months past the end of the calendar year (but not both).
- The list of procedures that you can submit extends beyond what you might expect. Expenses associated with chiropractic visits, acupuncture treatments, abortions, birth control and mental health counseling – as well as travel expenses associated with medical care – can all be submitted for reimbursement.
- If you don’t have dental or vision insurance, you can submit those costs for FSA reimbursement, so now is a great time to update your prescription or get a tooth cleaning.
OK, now assuming you’ve considered all of the above and still have a bunch of money left to spend, did you know that the FSA has an actual store? Truth! (I just discovered this myself.) You can use your money to buy things like massaging gel shoe inserts! And Band-Aids! And LIP BALM.
You can also buy the 10 products below, which are my personal faves and ones I strongly suggest you consider.
