Maybe you’re clicking through open enrollment, trying to remember what an HSA is again. Or maybe you just spotted an FSA balance you forgot about, with the plan year ending soon.
Either way, that money is meant for your health, and it stretches further than most people realize. Beyond prescriptions and doctor visits, it can cover physical therapy, lab work, eye exams, and even the sunscreen in your bathroom cabinet. Here’s what qualifies, so you can get the most out of your benefits before 2026 wraps up.
At a Glance
- More than prescriptions: Doctor and specialist visits, tests, physical therapy, mental health care, and dental and vision care can all qualify.
- Everyday products count: Many over-the-counter medicines, first-aid supplies, menstrual products, and sunscreen are eligible.
- Purpose matters most: If it treats, manages, or prevents a medical condition, it likely qualifies. If it’s cosmetic or for general wellness, it probably doesn’t.
- FSA dollars have a deadline: HSA money rolls over every year. Unused FSA funds may be lost.
HSA vs. FSA: What’s the Difference?
Both let you pay for eligible healthcare costs with pre-tax money. The difference is who owns the account and how long the money lasts.
A Health Savings Account (HSA) pairs with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), which has a lower monthly premium and a higher deductible. These plans are common. In 2023, 41.7% of people under 65 with private insurance had one. You keep your HSA even if you change jobs, and the balance rolls over year after year. Starting in 2026, bronze and catastrophic Marketplace plans also qualify for an HSA.
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) comes through your employer. You set aside money from each paycheck before taxes, but you generally need to use it within your plan year. Some employers offer a grace period or a small carryover, but not all do.
Healthcare Services Your HSA or FSA Can Cover
Many services you already use count as qualified medical expenses, including the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance you owe after insurance pays its share.
Primary Care and Preventive Visits
Your primary care provider (PCP) is your home base for staying healthy and catching problems early. That matters for most of us. About three in four U.S. adults live with at least one chronic condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure.
Many preventive services, like certain screenings and vaccines, are covered at no cost when you see an in-network provider. For sick visits, follow-ups, and chronic condition care, your HSA or FSA can help with what you owe.
Make your annual physical a priority before the year wraps up. A yearly visit with your Duly primary care provider helps you stay ahead of your health. Do you have a new concern? Mention it when you schedule so your provider can plan enough time.
Specialists, Tests, and Imaging
Seeing a dermatologist for eczema that won’t calm down? An orthopedic specialist for a knee that aches on every stair? Specialist visits generally qualify, along with the bloodwork, X‑rays, mammograms, MRIs, and other tests your provider orders. The key is why you’re getting care. Treating a medical condition counts. Purely cosmetic services, like Botox for fine lines, usually don’t. But some treatments people think of as cosmetic can qualify when they’re medically necessary, like Botox for chronic migraines or excessive sweating, or eyelid surgery when drooping lids block your vision.
Wondering whether a treatment could qualify? Duly Aesthetics and Duly’s Plastic Surgery team can talk through your goals, explain which options may be medically necessary, and help you plan before you book.
Physical Therapy
Whether you’re recovering from surgery or trying to get your golf swing back after a shoulder injury, physical therapy (PT) often means weekly visits, and those copays add up fast. PT, occupational therapy, and rehab are generally eligible, so your HSA or FSA can help soften the blow.
Still putting off that achy knee or sore back? Duly’s Orthopedics and Spine specialists and physical therapists work together to get you moving again, often starting with non-surgical care.
Immediate Care and Mental Health Care
A sinus infection on a Saturday or a cut that needs stitches rarely waits for a convenient time. Immediate Care, urgent care, and emergency room visits all qualify.
So does care for your mind. More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, yet only about half get treatment in a given year. Therapy, counseling, and psychiatric care are generally eligible, which can make behavioral health care easier to fit into your budget.
Dental and Vision Care
Even with separate dental or vision insurance, there’s often a gap. Cleanings, fillings, braces, eye exams, prescription glasses, contacts, and LASIK generally qualify. These are some of the most overlooked expenses, and some of the easiest ways to use leftover FSA dollars.
Everyday Products That Qualify
You don’t always need an appointment. Since 2020, over-the-counter medicines and menstrual products have been eligible without a prescription. That covers a lot of what’s already on your shopping list:
- Medicines: Pain relievers, allergy pills, cold and flu remedies, and heartburn treatments.
- First aid and home monitoring: Bandages, thermometers, blood pressure monitors, and glucose test strips.
- Sleep therapy: CPAP machines, masks, cushions, filters, and tubing.
- Women’s health and family care: Tampons, pads, pregnancy tests, contraceptives, and eligible breast pumps.
- Vision, hearing, and mobility: Contact solution, reading glasses, hearing aids, crutches, and walkers.
And here’s one that surprises people: Many plans cover sunscreen because it helps prevent skin cancer. Look for broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher. Some skincare can qualify, too, like acne treatments and lip balm with SPF 15 or higher. Duly Aesthetics carries medical-grade sun protection, including mineral sunscreens with SPF 45 and higher, so you can stock up while you’re thinking about it.
Using a CPAP for sleep apnea? CPAP machines and supplies are generally eligible, and the parts you replace regularly, like masks, cushions, filters, and tubing, are an easy way to put your HSA or FSA to work. Premier Medical Equipment, Duly’s durable medical equipment supplier, carries CPAP machines, masks, and replacement supplies. Order by phone or online, or visit a location in Joliet, Lockport, Naperville, or Tinley Park.
Gray Areas and What Doesn’t Qualify
Some expenses depend on the reason. Acupuncture can qualify, and massage therapy may too when it treats a specific condition. A weight management program prescribed for a diagnosed condition may count, while one for general fitness won’t. Even mileage and parking for medical appointments may qualify.
On the other hand, gym memberships, general vitamins, teeth whitening, makeup, and everyday fitness trackers usually don’t qualify. A good rule of thumb: Ask yourself whether you’re buying it to diagnose, treat, manage, or prevent a medical condition. When you’re not sure, check with your account administrator or IRS Publication 502 before you spend. Some gray-area expenses also need a letter of medical necessity from your provider.
How to Use Your Funds
Many providers accept HSA and FSA debit cards for copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. Say your orthopedic visit leaves you with a $40 copay. You can generally pay it straight from your account instead of your checking account. Paid out of pocket already? You can usually submit the expense for reimbursement, as long as it falls within your plan’s rules and deadlines.
Either way, save your itemized receipts and insurance statements in case your administrator asks for proof. Your account can usually cover your spouse and dependents too, from your child’s pediatric visits to braces for your teenager.
Know your costs before you go. Request a billing estimate from Duly before your visit, then pay your bill online anytime through MyChart. On a payment plan? You can keep an HSA or FSA card on file.
Make the Most of Your 2026 FSA Before the Deadline
FSAs generally work on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, so check your balance and plan rules before 2026 ends. If you have money left, you might:
- Pay any outstanding medical bills and file unsubmitted claims.
- Refill prescriptions and restock your first-aid kit and medicine cabinet.
- Replace worn CPAP masks, cushions, and filters through Premier Medical Equipment.
- Stock up on sunscreen and eligible skincare from Duly Aesthetics.
- Book an eye exam or order new glasses or contacts.
- Schedule care you’ve been putting off, as long as it happens within your plan year.
The goal isn’t to spend for the sake of spending. It’s to make sure you can pay for the care you need with the money you set aside. And if you have an HSA, you don’t have to rush. That balance stays with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my HSA or FSA for a copay or deductible?
Yes. Copays, deductibles, and coinsurance for qualified healthcare services are generally eligible for both HSAs and healthcare FSAs.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for telehealth visits?
Yes. Telehealth visits for qualifying medical care are generally eligible, including visits with a primary care provider, specialist, or mental health professional.
Can I use my HSA or FSA for a gym membership?
Generally, no. Gym memberships for general fitness or weight loss don’t qualify, though limited exceptions exist for treatment of a diagnosed medical condition.
What if I accidentally use my HSA or FSA for something that isn’t eligible?
Contact your account administrator to correct it. Nonqualified HSA withdrawals are generally taxed as income, plus an additional 20% tax if you’re under 65 and no exception applies. With an FSA, you may need to repay the amount or provide documentation.
Get the Most Out of Your Benefits in 2026
Your HSA or FSA only helps if you use it. At Duly Health and Care, primary care providers, specialists, Immediate Care, Duly Aesthetics, Premier Medical Equipment, and more work together to support you at every stage of life. Whether you’re due for a checkup or finally ready to deal with a nagging concern, we’re here to help you take the next step.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Chronic Disease, 2025: Chronic conditions among U.S. adults.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sun Safety Tips: Use Sunscreen.
- HealthCare.gov. Preventive Care Benefits.
- Internal Revenue Service. IRS Outlines Changes to Health Care Spending Available Under CARES Act.
- Internal Revenue Service. Notice 2026 – 5: Health Savings Account Changes.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.
- Internal Revenue Service. Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans.
- National Center for Health Statistics. High-Deductible Health Plan Enrollment Among People Under 65 With Private Insurance, 2023.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Mental Illness Statistics.
Disclaimer: HSA and FSA qualification may vary by plan provider. It is the patient’s responsibility to confirm coverage with their plan provider or account administrator before purchasing a product or service. Eligibility also depends on IRS guidelines and your individual benefits plan.
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