If you’re fortunate enough to have a flexible spending account, or FSA, you probably already know there’s a ticking clock on spending those annual funds. This cash is earmarked specifically for qualified medical expenses, or “FSA-eligible items,” and if you let it slip past your plan’s deadline, it’s essentially waving goodbye to that money. While the exact spending deadline depends on your provider, you usually have until the end of the calendar year, or March 15 of the following year if you have a grace period. That means it’s prime time to figure out the savvy ways to use that FSA cash and squeeze the most value out of every dollar.
So, the burning question: What exactly qualifies for FSA money spending? Sure, you can always dip into your funds for doctor’s appointments and medications, covering everything from prescriptions to most over-the-counter drugs. But there’s a treasure trove of other eligible health care goodies and services that might be flying under your radar. A nifty way to sift through what’s fair game (and what’s not) is by tapping into the FSAFEDS database, run by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. This user-friendly system simplifies the hunt for specific items, giving you the lowdown on whether a product or service is eligible, ineligible or falls into the “eligible only with a prescription or doctor’s note” category.
You can also take advantage of websites like the FSA Store, which solely sells FSA-eligible items, or Amazon’s FSA Store for quick and easy online purchases. No matter where you shop, be sure to keep itemized receipts in case your benefits administrator ever denies a charge. If you’re looking for ways to use up the last of your allotted money, the following are several FSA-eligible items you might not have thought about but are worth every penny.
Massage sore muscles and pound pesky knots with Therabody’s smallest percussive massage gun, the Mini. About the size of a softball, it comes with three attachment heads and a soft carrying case for on-the-go use, but don’t let its portability fool you. The Mini may fit in the palm of your hand, but it packs as much power as a full-size massage gun with three speed settings for muscles small and large.
An Efficient, Effective Water Pick
Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
The time has come to ditch the traditional floss dispenser and upgrade to a water pick. This one’s 10 pressure settings offer a custom cleaning experience that’s forceful when you need it and gentle when you don’t. And if you lose track of time cleaning every nook and cranny, a 30- and 6-second pause feature keeps you on track. Seven tips allow the entire family to practice good oral hygiene that nine out of 10 dentists recommend.
A Set Of Rolling Wheels For Back Therapy
Chirp Wheel Foam Roller Set
Use Chirp’s foam roller wheels to stretch your back and target tight muscles. The largest wheel offers a light, gentle stretch from top to bottom, the middle wheel singles out muscles along the spine and the smallest releases tension in the neck. Each one features a soft layer of sweat-resistant padding to improve comfort and grip.
A Smart Blood Pressure Monitor
iHealth Track Smart Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
iHealth’s innovative blood pressure monitor records up to 99 readings on the device itself and the rest through an app to help you track trends over the course of weeks, months and years. The bright backlit display makes it easy to see every reading, and color coded results help you understand if your blood pressure is low, normal or high.
An Acupressure Set To Relieve Aches And Pains
ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat And Pillow Set
The prickly, pronged sensation of an acupressure mat may feel a bit uncomfortable during those first few seconds, but give it a minute and the sensation evolves to offer soothing relief as muscles slowly relax. Thousands of points stimulate nerves and improve circulation—the perfect combination for those who suffer from mobility issues or sit for hours each day.
Reusable Silicone Menstrual Cups
EcoBlossom Reusable Menstrual Cup Set
Enjoy up to 12 hours of leak-free protection with EcoBlossom’s reusable menstrual cup set. It’s a budget-conscious buy that saves money and is better for the planet, and the cup’s medical-grade silicone construction prevents any unwanted irritation.
High-Tech Hot And Cold Therapy
Therabody RecoveryTherm Cube
You could slowly alternate between hot and cold packs, or you can take advantage of Therabody’s RecoveryTherm Cube that manages heating and cooling on your behalf. The hands-free device operates as a heating pad and cold compress to deliver targeted pain relief via optimized temperature presets. Its battery lasts for a considerable time and is quick to charge, ensuring targeted relief is always within reach.
A Multi-Purpose Contact Solution
Renu Contact Lens Solution
Rinse, disinfect and store your contact lenses in Renu’s Contact solution. The two-in-one formula replaces Renu Fresh and Renu Sensitive to simplify the daily exercise of putting contacts in and taking them out.
A Bag Of Natural Lemon Mint Cough Drops
Ricola Sugar Free Cough Drops
As cold and flu season fast approaches, you’ll want a pack of gentle cough drops to soothe any nasty sore throat. Complete with 10 naturally cultivated Swiss Alpine herbs, Ricola’s recipe is over 80 years old and refreshingly effective.
A Three-In-One Dyson To Purify, Heat And Cool
Dyson Purifier
Clean, heat and cool the air with Dyson’s sleek, polished purifier. The oscillating design distributes purified air throughout any room and removes several airborne toxins, automatically sensing and reacting to changes in air quality on the fly before sending pollutant reports to the device’s LCD screen and the Dyson app. While the unit only uses a fan to deliver cool air, reviews suggest it’s incredibly effective, reducing the likelihood that you’ll need to run the AC.
A First Aid Kit For Scrapes, Cuts, Sprains And Burns
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