If you have a flexible spending account through work, the clock is running out on money you already set aside.
Most healthcare FSAs follow a calendar-year schedule, which means any funds left after December 31 typically vanish unless your employer offers a grace period or carryover option.
Here's the frustrating part: every year, workers forfeit hundreds of dollars on average because they simply lose track of the balance.
That's real money that came out of your paycheck in small, painless increments all year long.
The good news is you still have time to spend it, and you don't need a medical emergency to do it.
Everyday purchases count, and many of them are things you'd buy anyway.
Bandages, contact lens solution, pregnancy tests, heating pads, sunscreen, and most over-the-counter medications qualify.
So do first aid kits, thermometers, and even some menstrual products, which became eligible a few years back.
Vision and dental are usually wide open too.
Book that eye exam you've been putting off, order a spare pair of glasses, or stock up on contact lenses.
A cleaning or a filling at the dentist also counts, as long as you get the appointment scheduled before the deadline.
A few bigger-ticket items can soak up a remaining balance fast.
Prescription glasses, hearing aids, and CPAP supplies are all eligible.
Some plans even cover acupuncture, chiropractic visits, and certain fertility treatments.
Before you panic-spend, check two things.
First, find out whether your plan has a grace period, usually up to two and a half months into the new year, or a carryover, which lets you roll a limited amount forward.
Second, confirm your specific plan's rules, because eligible expenses vary more than people expect.
If you use an FSA debit card, most purchases go through automatically, but some retailers require documentation.
A rejected claim after the deadline can turn into a forfeited balance, and there's no appeal once the year closes.
One more thing worth knowing: if your employer offers a dependent care FSA, that's a separate account with its own deadline.
It covers daycare, after-school programs, and summer camp, and it's notorious for leaving money on the table because parents forget to file for reimbursement.
Some plan years end on a different date, and some employers give you until mid-March to submit claims for expenses incurred earlier.
Read your plan documents or call your benefits administrator, because assuming the wrong date is how people lose money.
If you're staring down a balance you can't possibly spend, there's a small silver lining.
You can often use FSA funds for eligible expenses for a spouse or dependent, even if they're not on your insurance plan.
That opens up options you might not have considered.
An FSA is a use-it-or-lose-it deal, and the house wins when you forget.
Final Thoughts
Spend fifteen minutes checking your balance and booking an appointment today, because that money was yours the moment it left your paycheck.