Holiday Tips to Help You Spend Your FSA and HSA Dollars
If enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you may be looking for ways to spend down your balance before the plan year ends. I’ve got some ideas to help you use up those remaining FSA dollars. Or, you may be looking to jump start your health and wellness resolutions for next year. Here are some holiday tips on how your FSA or Health Savings Account (HSA) can help you get through the holidays and get a good, healthy start on the new year.
Holiday Tip #1. Get some exercise!
It is so easy to overeat during the holiday season. After yummy spreads and charcuterie boards at parties, and making holiday cookies at home, you may be needing to lose a few pounds. Or, you may just be looking to live a more active life in the new year. The American Heart Association says that exercising even just a few minutes here and there throughout the day is a great way to get started. See if your employer offers discounts to gyms or fitness classes through an employee wellness program.
Holiday Tip #2. Eat in moderation, but when that’s not enough…
If you have more than just a few pounds to use, look into weight loss programs, medications, and counseling. They may be eligible FSA expenses if you have a prescription or Letter of Medical Necessity and other backup. If that’s still not enough, weight loss surgery is an eligible expense with a detailed receipt.
Holiday Tip #3. Burning the candle at both ends?
It’s hard to get enough sleep at any point in the year, but even more so around the holidays. There are so many people to see and events to attend! Not getting enough sleep can lead to a lot of other problems, so it’s really important to make sure you are getting enough ZZZ’s. You can try putting away your phone before you call it a night to help your brain wind down. But if that’s not enough, you might want to look into sleep supplements, eye masks, or other sleep-related products and services. Check out my blog on how your FSA and HSA may be able to help.
Holiday Tip #4. Dealing with grief and depression during the holidays
Many of us will gather with family, friends and loved ones over the holidays. For those who have lost or separated from loved ones or can’t be with family for other reasons, this can be the worst time of the year. The Mayo Clinic has some suggestions on how to get through the season. If self-care is not relieving your grief or depression, you may need to consider therapy and/or medications. Check out my blog on mental health for more information on how your FSA and HSA accounts can help you get the relief you need.
We hope that these tips will help you enjoy a peaceful, healthy and happy holiday season and new year!
Captain Contributor is an award-winning employee education and engagement program created by DataPath, Inc.