10 Days, 10 Ways to spend flexible spending account dollars, before they're gone for good

NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Misperceptions are running high when it comes to the flexible spending account (FSA) temporary deadline and rollover extensions that were enacted in 2020 in response to COVID-19. As a result, millions of American consumers are at increased risk of forfeiting FSA funds to the December use-it-or-lose-it deadline. In addition to urging account holders to confirm their deadline with their employer or FSA administrator, FSAstore.com — the first and leading online marketplace for exclusively eligible FSA shopping, tools, and education — offers the following 10 ways to spend down remaining FSA funds before the December 31 deadline.

10 ways to spend FSA funds before December 31

• Drug-free pain relief products. Manage everyday aches and pains with products that are free from drugs or active ingredients, like the Aura Revive Heated Deep Muscle Pain Relief Device, BioWaveGO Wearable Chronic Pain Relief Technology, Posture Pump® Dual Deluxe Full Spine with Disc Hydrator, Model 4100-D, or the Sharper Image® Calming Heat Massaging Weighted Heating Pad, 12" x 24", 4 lbs.
• First-aid kits. A fully equipped first-aid kit is an essential for home, office, cabin, car, or on-the-go-adventures. Pick from a wide variety of pre-packaged first-aid kits, including American Red Cross Deluxe Family First Aid Kit, Adventure Medical Pro Series Guide First Aid Kit, Adventure Medical Mountain Mountaineer First Aid Kit, and the Welly First Aid Kit - 130 ct.
• Newborn and new parent products. From baby health monitors to breast pumps to diaper rash ointment, use your FSA to buy everything you and your new baby need to be healthy. Visit FSAstore.com for items like the Nanit Pro Complete Baby Monitoring System, Elvie Double Electric Breast Pump, or the Desitin Daily Defense Zinc Oxide Diaper and Rash Cream Jar, 16 oz.
• High-end skin care. Keep that healthy glow and fight dry skin, eczema, and more with a wide variety of FSA-eligible items, such as Eucerin Eczema Relief Body Cream, 8 oz., Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion, Aloe, 14 oz., Aveeno Restorative Skin Therapy Itch Relief Balm, 4 oz., and Aquaphor Healing Ointment Jar, 14 oz.
• Acne products. Teenagers aren't the only ones who experience acne. Fortunately, you can fight acne with FSA-eligible products like the dpl IIa Professional Acne Treatment Light Therapy, Glytone Acne Treatment Mask, 3 oz., CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, 8 oz., and reVive Light Therapy Essentials - Acne Treatment.
• Outdoor adventure. Don't let allergies, sunburn, or injuries dampen your love of the great outdoors. Use your FSA to protect your health so the adventure never ends. Check out these top picks from FSAstore shoppers: Spark Kinetic Knee Sleeve, Zyrtec Adult Allergy Relief Tablets, Bug Bite Thing, and Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray Twin Pack.
• Joint and muscle pain. Whether you're fighting arthritis pain or recovering from a weekend sports injury, your FSA can help ease the pain with products like the Ultimate Foot Circulator with Remote, Intellinetix Vibrating Arthritis Gloves, KT Tape Recovery Ice/Heat Massage Ball, and the Aura Revroll Vibrating + Heat Foam Roller.
• Eye care. See clearly as you head into the New Year with items like the Look Optic Abbey Blue-Light Reading Glasses, CareTouch Lens Wipes, Systane Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops, Opti-Free PureMoist Disinfecting Solution, a last-minute eye exam, and more!
• High-tech health. If you're a techie at heart, use your FSA to manage your health with the latest high-tech health devices. Explore devices like the Reliefband Nausea Relief - Premier, the Oska Pulse Pain Relief Device, or the CalmiGo - Smart Calming Companion. Want to learn more about your background and genetic makeup? Use your FSA funds to buy 23andMe Health Service testing kits.
• Sun protection. It doesn't have to be 85 and sunny for the sun to damage your skin. Use your FSA to purchase sunscreen or sun protection lip balm with an SPF of 15+, and moisturizers with aloe vera to replenish and heal your skin after sun exposure. Shop FSAstore.com for top brands like Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen, SPF 40, Daily Perfecting Moisturizer, SPF 30, Brush on Block Facial Mineral Sunscreen Powder, SPF 30, and Coola From Beach To Boardroom Tinted Mineral Liplux Trio, SPF 30.

"Every year, consumers leave an estimated $500 million on the table due to a missed December 31 deadline, and we expect forfeitures to far exceed that amount this year because of deadline confusion and misperceptions," said Preston Farrington, CEO, Health-E Commerce. "Consumers should not assume that their deadline or rollover has been extended. In fact, it's estimated that fewer than 50% of employers offered an extension that would allow 2021 funds to rollover or continue to be available longer into 2022. So, check your deadline today and spend down those dollars."

That consumer confusion was clear in a survey of 3,600 shoppers to FSAstore.com in September and October. The survey showed that 50% of consumers are not confident that they understand recent FSA deadline and rollover changes, and 75% have not been notified of their deadline or they don't recall being notified. More importantly, 37% said they have a higher balance this year than they did last year, which means they have more at risk to lose.

Use the "2021 FSA Deadline Spending Guide" for hassle-free deadline shopping
FSAstore.com, which is part of the Health-E Commerce family of brands, sells only products that have been deemed eligible for FSA reimbursement, and offers hands-on tools — such as calculators and its new Deadline Alerts feature — to help individuals and families manage their health and their healthcare dollars. The "2021 FSA Deadline Spending Guide" makes deadline shopping easy for account holders. The guide features curated bundles of popular products for specific health needs, COVID-19 preparedness products, and anything else you need to meet your everyday health needs. FSAstore.com has account holders covered this 12/31 deadline with:

• The largest selection of 100% guaranteed FSA-eligible products.
• 24/7 access to trusted FSA experts via phone, email, or online chat
• The ability to use an FSA debit card and skip the paper claims
• Fast and free shipping on orders over $50
• The ability to place orders until midnight on December 31 and be assured those purchases will be applied to 2021 FSA funds, not 2022.

About FSAstore.com
FSAstore.com is flex spending with zero guesswork. It's both the largest online marketplace for exclusively FSA-eligible products and an educational resource that you can actually understand. It's the company's mission to help millions of FSA holders manage and use their accounts, and save on more than 4,000 health items using tax-free funds.

About Health-E Commerce
Health-E Commerce is the parent company of FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com and WellDeserved, a family of brands that serve the 60+ million consumers with pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company has also created Caring Mill, a popular private-label line of health products that benefits Children's Health Fund and enables customers to make a donation with each purchase. Since 2010, the company's brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the IRS-approved list of eligible medical expenses like sunscreen and breast pumps. The company leads a committee of industry experts to promote the important national conversation around product safety and authenticity.

Media Contact

Barbara Tabor, FSAstore.com, 651-230-9192, [email protected]

SOURCE FSAstore.com