FSA Shopping Guide: Eligible Items to Buy Before the 2025 Cutoff

You stayed healthier than you expected to this year. The only problem, if you can call it that, is that now you have money left over in your flexible spending account (FSA) , and you're running out of time to use it.

Unlike with health savings accounts (HSAs), you typically have to use up all the money in your FSA by the end of the year, or you lose it. But that doesn't mean you have to book a bunch of doctor's appointments you don't need. There are plenty of over-the-counter products you can spend your FSA money on and save for when you actually need them.

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Medications

You can spend your FSA funds on common over-the-counter medications, including pain relievers, cold and flu medicine, antacids, and allergy medications. Things like acne treatments and smoking cessation gum and patches also count.

Medical supplies and monitoring devices

Items like bandages, face masks, first aid kits, and walking aids are also FSA-eligible. So are blood pressure monitors, diabetic monitors and test kits, CPAPs, and compression socks. You may also use your FSA funds for massager guns and devices and shoe insoles.

Dental, hearing, and vision care

Dental, hearing, and vision care count as medical expenses as well. This may include visits to the dentist or eye doctor. But it can also include things like eyeglasses, clear dental aligners, contact lenses and solutions, and hearing aids.

Reproductive health and child care

You can also use your FSA funds to cover expenses related to reproductive health and infant care, such as birth control, breast pumps, fertility monitors, pregnancy tests, and lactation supplies. Diaper rash ointments and creams and medications for babies count too.

If you're not sure whether an expense is covered, check your plan administrator's documentation. It may provide a searchable list, so you can see which expenses qualify and which don't.

Check your plan's rules

If for some reason, you still can't use up your FSA funds on the items above, you may be able to carry some of that money over into 2026. Some plans enable you to either have an extra two-and-a-half months to use any money remaining in your FSA at the end of the year, or carry over up to $660 to use next year. You won't have both options, though, and it's possible you may not have either. Check with your employer to find out whether it offers a grace period or carryover.

If you have upcoming medical expenses, see if you can schedule them before you lose your FSA funds. Don't forget that you can use them to cover your health insurance premiums, deductibles, and copays , as well as prescription medications.

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