If you set aside money in a healthcare flexible spending account this year, there's a decent chance a chunk of it is still sitting there untouched.
And depending on your employer's rules, that cash can vanish when the calendar flips.
This isn't a small amount we're talking about, either.
Workers routinely forfeit hundreds of dollars each year simply because they didn't submit a receipt in time.
The tricky part is that not every FSA works the same way.
Your plan might follow a strict December 31 deadline, or it might offer a grace period that pushes the cutoff into mid-March.
Some employers also allow a carryover, letting you roll a limited amount into next year.
The only way to know which rules apply to you is to check your plan documents or call your benefits administrator.
You often have two separate deadlines working against each other: the date by which you must spend the funds, and the date by which you must file the claim.
You might use your card at the pharmacy on December 28 and still need to submit documentation weeks later.
Miss that paperwork window and the purchase doesn't count, no matter how legitimate it was.
Over-the-counter medicine, bandages, sunscreen, menstrual products, and first-aid supplies have all been fair game for years now.
Prescription glasses, contact lenses, dental work, therapy sessions, and copays count too.
If you're close to the finish line, a quick refill of everyday health items is one of the simplest ways to use up a balance without wasting it.
A few practical moves before the clock runs out.
Log into your FSA portal and find your exact remaining balance, then separate eligible expenses you've already paid for but never submitted.
Those old receipts are often the fastest path to getting reimbursed.
If you're still short, schedule that eye exam or dental cleaning you've been putting off, or stock up on eligible supplies you'll use anyway.
One caution worth repeating: don't invent expenses or stretch the rules.
Claims get audited, and a denied submission can leave you worse off than doing nothing.
Stick to purchases you can document clearly.
If your employer offers a carryover or grace period, you may have a little breathing room, but don't bank on it without confirming in writing.
Deadlines in benefits land have a way of being firmer than they sound.
That money came out of your paycheck, so treat the deadline like a bill you owe yourself.
Spend ten minutes checking your balance and filing what you can.
Final Thoughts
It's one of the few financial chores where the payoff is immediate and entirely yours.