Unspent Flex Funds? Need Ideas?
What can I spend my FSA money on?
Medical treatment such as doctor and emergency room visits, insurance deductibles and copayments, and prescription medicines are fair game. But there is also a long list of approved products and services that are eligible for FSA coverage.
While some FSA items are automatically eligible for everyone, other products and services require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from a licensed physician. The following list of FSA-eligible products is not exhaustive, but it covers all of the major categories of medical and dental care that can be paid for with FSA money:
COVID-19: COVID-related products such as face masks, at-home tests and hand sanitizer qualify for FSA reimbursement.
Dental procedures and products: Your dentures, implants, bridges and sealants are all covered by FSA, as are dental reconstruction and wisdom teeth removal. FSA funds usually cover orthodontia, including Invisalign. Veneers require an LMN from a dentist.
Vision: Not only can you use your FSA funds for prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses, you can also use them for non-prescription reading glasses or blue-blocker glasses. Similarly, contact lenses and supplies, including cleaning solution and lens cases, are eligible for FSA coverage, as are cataract and laser eye surgery.
Hearing: Your FSA money can be used for hearing aids, as well as batteries and maintenance for those aids. Telephones for the hearing impaired are also covered, as are products like ear cleaners and wax removers.
Breathing: Respiratory products such as nasal spray, inhalers and vaporizers are eligible for FSA coverage. With an LMN from a doctor, air conditioning, air filters and air purifiers can all be eligible for reimbursement.
Sleep:Along with OTC sleep medications, your FSA money can also be used for CPAP machines for sleep apnea and mouth guards to prevent teeth grinding. Prescription sleep medicine is also included. Items such as pillows with lumbar support or melatonin can be covered with an LMN from a doctor.
Preventive screenings: Tests evaluating your health can be paid for with FSA money. Eligible screenings include DNA testing, heart scans, cancer screening, diabetes screening, HPV and HIV screening, breast cancer mammography screening and CT scans, and any blood tests that aren't covered by insurance.
Pregnancy and sexual health: Most pregnancy-related items and services are eligible for FSA funding, including pregnancy tests, prenatal vitamins, infertility treatments, intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization. Also covered: costs related to egg donors, surrogates, and egg and embryo storage. Men can use FSA funds on vasectomy reversal and medication for erectile dysfunction.
Menstruation: Pads, tampons, period underwear, pain relievers and other menstrual supplies all qualify as FSA expenses.
Medical equipment: Most products for measuring health are eligible for FSA money. Examples are thermometers, blood pressure monitors, blood sugar test kits and pulse oximeters.
Batteries: Along with the medical equipment itself, if you use batteries to power medical devices, they are FSA eligible.
Mental health: You can use FSA money for mental health treatments and services, including therapy and counseling in person or online. Visits to psychologists or psychiatrists are eligible, as are psychiatric care and prescription medicine. Unfortunately, marriage and couples counseling are not eligible for FSA reimbursement.
Addiction: FSAs can cover smoking cessation treatments and products to help stop smoking, like nicotine gum or patches. They can also cover donations to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and the cost of transportation to attend, as well as other substance abuse programs and treatment for gambling addiction. An LMN is required to cover the cost of staying at a halfway house.
Weight loss: Weight-loss programs are eligible for FSA coverage, as are gastric bypass or lap-band surgeries. Prescription drugs for weight loss are also eligible.
Physical fitness: Most fitness expenses aren't eligible for FSA coverage unless they are prescribed by a physician with an LMN. These expenses, if doctor recommended, can include personal trainers, gym memberships and yoga classes.
Athletic protection: If you're looking to keep yourself safe and healthy during athletic activity, your FSA funds will cover many items, including athletic tape, braces and bandages, cups, face masks and mouth guards.
Muscle therapy: Most physical therapy is eligible for FSA funding, including massage devices at home. You can also use your FSA money for carpal tunnel supports, back braces or heating and cooling pads.
Babies: FSA funds cover many newborn-related expenses, including breast pumps, lactation consultants, breastfeeding classes, breast milk storage bags, diaper rash ointment, children's sunscreen and baby breathing monitors. Infant formula can qualify, but only with an LMN from a doctor.
Contraception: FSA funds can help prevent unwanted pregnancies as well. Birth control pills, tubal ligation, vasectomies and condoms are all eligible. Levonorgestrel-based "morning-after pills" like Plan B One-Step or Take Action are eligible for FSA funding, as are all legal abortion procedures, including RU-486 pills (mifepristone).
Over-the-counter medicine: OTC medications were not FSA eligible until the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020. Now, cold, flu and allergy medications, pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, motion sickness pills, glucosamine sulfate for joint pain and other OTC medicine all qualify for FSA claims. First-aid kits and supplies like adhesive bandages and antibiotics are also eligible.
Foot care: Even though you can't use FSA funds for athletic shoes (no matter how orthopedic) you can still use FSA money for healthy feet. Foot care products such as supports for high or low arches and corn removers are some of the items eligible for coverage.
Transportation: FSA money can be used to pay for travel expenses related to medical care or advice, including airplane tickets, gas, mileage and maintenance costs, parking, bus or train fares and lodging.
Alternative medicine: A few nontraditional medical products and practices are eligible for FSA funding, including acupuncture, chiropractic services, homeopathy and holistic medicine.
Health-related home improvements: If you need to change your living situation to account for an injury or medical situation, your FSA money should be eligible for most of it, including wheelchair ramps, grab bars, wider doorways, lower kitchen cabinets or counters, and home elevators,
Mobility: For help getting around, FSA money can cover many products, including scooters, wheelchairs, crutches, canes and artificial limbs. Modifications to vehicles can also be eligible for FSA reimbursement with an LMN from a doctor.