10 unexpected FSA-eligible purchases you can make before the year is up

Anyone with a flexible spending account, or FSA, knows that if they don't use what's in their accounts before the annual deadline, they lose it. But too many employees forget or can't remember their deadline, and that can cause them to lose out on money they've already set aside. 

Unless an employer offers a deadline extension (typically to March 15), most FSA users must use all their funds by December 31. In fact, the FSA Store, a shopping platform specifically for FSA-eligible products, estimates that nearly 70% of FSA users have the earlier deadline, and consumers forfeit $3 billion in unused funds each year. 

"An FSA can deliver valuable savings for individuals and families, but if funds aren't used by the plan deadline, that money can be forfeited back to the plan," says Rachel Rouleau, chief compliance officer for FSA Store. "The last thing HR teams want is to see employees leave their hard-earned healthcare dollars on the table, which is why education about deadlines and eligibility is so crucial."

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If HR hasn't made the FSA deadline clear, Rouleau recommends that employees check their FSA or benefits portal to confirm how long they have to spend whatever remains in their account. 

As for how they should spend the money, Rouleau reminds FSA users that their money goes further than just doctor appointments. If the users have fulfilled their needed healthcare visits for the year, including annual exams and screenings, updated vaccines and chronic condition management, they can stock up on other health-related products.

"Most people are surprised to learn how much their FSA covers," says Rouleau. "From everyday healthcare supplies and medications to menstrual care products and first-aid supplies to high-tech health devices."

Read more: Creating benefits that care for the whole employee

The FSA Store put together a list of 10 popular but surprising FSA-eligible products: