Posted by Kristen on September 27, 2012
As the year is coming to an end, so is the chance to use the money you set aside in your Flexible Spending Account, or FSA. The money in the account is a “use it or lose it†type so if you still have money left, you run the risk of letting it go to waste. Here are some simple ways to use up whatever money you have left in your FSA account.
Photo source: Kristen
Ways to Use Your Flexible Spending Account
- Eye Care. If you’ve been thinking about undergoing laser eye surgery, now is your chance since it is included. You can also update your current pair of eye glasses, get prescription sunglasses, reading glasses, and contact lenses. Contact cleaning solutions are also covered.
- Chiropractic Care. In addition to helping with aches and pains, chiropractors can help you with headaches, energy level, fatigue, and injuries from sports or accidents. The services chiropractors offer vary from each doctor, but some can help you organize a fitness plan and create a nutrition plan.
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments are also covered. Acupuncture can help with stress, aches and pains, and even fertility and weight loss.
- Removal and treatment of benign growths. Getting rid of benign moles, cysts, and tumors is covered with the money from your account. You can also remove varicose veins.
- Skin care. If you or one of your dependents has been struggling with acne, you should know that most acne treatment is covered with your FSA account.
- Allergy treatment. If you’ve been putting off taking care of your allergies, you can rest assured knowing that most allergy treatments and prescription medications are covered.
- Counseling. Many counseling services are covered. Besides standard therapy, you can also enroll in programs and counseling to quit smoking or deal with an alcohol or drug addiction. However, marriage counseling is not covered.
- Doctor visits. Get your check up in since majority of doctor visits and most prescriptions are allowed. If you want to check your blood pressure without visiting the doctor, most blood pressure monitors can be purchased with funds from your account.
- Dental care. Whether you have a tooth ache you’ve been trying to ignore or it’s just time for a check up, make an appointment to keep your oral hygiene at its best.
- Pregnancy care. Pregnancy tests and condoms are also covered on flex plans. If you’re already pregnant, Lamaze classes and breast feeding classes are covered as well.
- Dealing with cold season. It’s that time of year that people start coming down with a cold. Luckily, cough drops, cold and flu prevention and medicine, and aspirin are covered, as long as you have a prescription from your doctor. As of 2011, FSAs no longer cover OTC drugs without a prescription. To keep from getting sick, you can get a flu shot which is covered, as well as other immunizations. Antacid, chest rubs, cold sore treatments are included as well.
- Transportation to the doctor. Don’t forget that transportation to the doctor is covered as well.
Be sure to double check that the service you are seeking is covered with your FSA account before purchasing or making an appointment.
Do you have leftover FSA money? If so, what are you doing to spend it all?
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1 Comment
I’ve never done the healthcare FSA because the whole use it or lose it policy makes me nervous. At least with the dependent care FSA you can accurately calculate out what you’re going to spend. There do seem to be a lot more things covered than I would have guessed, though.
Rebecca