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Surprising Ways to Use Your HCFSA
If you are enrolled in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA), your opportunity to spend the funds you've set aside will end on midnight on January 1, 2026. Only $640 can roll over to your account for 2026, so any other money will be forfeited.
Below are five surprising things you can use your HCFSA dollars on:
- Over-the-Counter Medications (Without a Prescription): Many over-the-counter (OTC) medications like pain relievers, allergy medications, and cold remedies are eligible for FSA reimbursement. This includes products like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and antihistamines. Flu season is already underway, so this is a great opportunity to stock up.
- Therapy and mental health services: FSAs can be used to cover therapy sessions, counseling, and even some mental health treatments that are provided by licensed professionals like psychologists or licensed clinical social workers. This can help offset any costs not covered by your health insurance when seeking mental health support.
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Mileage reimbursement: You can receive a reimbursement for gas used when driving to and from medical, dental, and vision appointments for you and your eligible dependents, even if the dependent isn't on any other plan. To use your HCFSA funds for mileage reimbursement, complete an FSA Claim Form and include a map for each location you're claiming.
- Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care: If you're looking for pain management or stress relief services, you can use your FSA to pay for alternative medicine treatments like acupuncture or chiropractic care provided by a licensed professional.
- Acne Treatments: If you have acne, you can use your HCFSA for prescription treatments such as topical medications, like tretinoin and benzoyl peroxide, and oral medications that are prescribed by a medical professional. Over-the-counter cleansers, gels, and lotions may also be eligible, if they are specifically for treating acne rather than designed for general skincare.
Need more ideas? Find a list of common expenses here. P&A Group, NCFlex's FSA vendor, recommends visiting the FSA Store. Whether you purchase products on the site or elsewhere, it can give you ideas of products you use regularly but didn't realize are FSA-eligible. Similarly, many large retailers like Amazon and Target have FSA-eligible specific sections online.
Remember, your deadline to spend funds from your 2025 HCFSA account is December 31, 2025*. At that time, any money over $640 will be lost. You must have at least $25 in your account for funds to roll over to 2026. You do not have to be enrolled in the HCFSA for 2026 for your 2025 money to roll over.
*For 2025 out-of-pocket expenses not paid for with your FSA card, you have until March 31, 2026 to file a claim.
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