Going on Vacation This Summer? Don’t Forget About Your FSA!

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a type of savings account often used in tandem with a group health plan. An FSA allows employees to contribute a portion of their paycheck (pre-tax) to pay for qualified health care expenses. 

With summer just around the corner, you’re probably beginning to plan your vacation, which may include a shopping spree to buy any products you may foresee needing during your trip. A lot of FSA participants don’t realize that the items they are buying are FSA-qualified expenses.  

Here are some FSA-eligible items that may be important for your trip: 

For those sun-filled days at the beach: 

• Aloe and burn relief cream 
• Moisturizer + SPF 
• Reading sunglasses  
• SPF lip balm 
• Sunscreen 
• Tanning oils and sprays + SPF 

For those long hikes in the forest:  

• Allergy medication and eye drops 
• Anti-itch creams and wipes 
• Blister cushion bandages 
• Foot rollers and other acupuncture products for feet, back, and neck 
• Icy Hot and other muscle or joint pain-relieving creams and patches 
• Pain-relief orthotics 

For families traveling with children: 

• Bedtime underwear (aka Pull-Ups)  
• Diaper rash creams 
• Electric breast pumps 
• First aid kits 
• Teething gel 

For adults: 

• Condoms 
• Face washes, moisturizers, and toners 
• Menstrual products, including menstrual cups and cleaners, period underwear, and pain relief 
• Pedialyte – for those rough mornings after a late night  
• Pimple patches 
• Salicylic acid acne treatments 

For COVID-19 protection: 

• Alcohol wipes 
• Face masks 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Thermometers  

Check out the FSA store to see what other items they sell. If you’re not purchasing directly from the FSA store, remember to double check that your item is FSA-eligible.  

Note: If your FSA is tied to a debit card, don’t forget to take it with you. That way, if you need to purchase an eligible item while traveling, you can charge it to your card and won’t need to submit the purchase for reimbursement. No one wants to worry about paperwork while they’re relaxing beach-side!  

A slightly unrelated – but important – note when traveling: Remember to always take everyone’s medical insurance cards with you.