Looking to Spend Your HSA/FSA? Here’s What to Buy First.

Ready to finally put your HSA or FSA to good use? These common employee benefits aren’t quite as simple to spend as cash in your pocket, but they can buy you an assortment of health essentials and wellness goodies, if you know where to look. Thankfully, over at the Stridekick Shop, we have a huge collection of eligible products to choose from, and we’ve partnered with Truemed to make securing reimbursement a breeze.

We’re here with some shopping inspiration to ensure you make the most of your HSA or FSA this year. From bare-bones basics to recovery gadgets and beauty must-haves, something is sure to call your name.

Build Your First Aid Kit.

Always scrambling for a Band-Aid for the occasional cut or scrape? Unused HSA/FSA funds are an awesome opportunity to stock your home with a first aid kit for accidents, minor injuries, and lapses in judgement (hey, that chair looked sturdy enough to use as a ladder).

HSA/FSA-eligible essentials for your home first aid kit include:

• Wound care, like Band-Aids, gauze, butterfly bandages, cloth medical tape, and ACE wraps
• Antiseptics, like alcohol wipes
• Ointments, like antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel, and hydrocortisone cream
• Basic tools, like a thermometer, tweezers, medical scissors, non-latex gloves, and instant cold packs

And while you’re at it, restock your bathroom with period products—yep, they’re eligible, too!

• Flex Reusable Disc, made from medical-grade silicone for 12-hour wear, plus a patented notch for easier insertion
• Popmask’s Small Big Hug Self-Heating Patches, biodegradable patches for 12-hour relief from mild cramping
• Paingone’s Ellune, a TENS device specifically designed for drug-free period pain relief

Stock Up on Essential Skincare.

You might be surprised to learn that many skincare products are HSA/FSA eligible (we broke down exactly how and why in our guide to HSA/FSA-eligible skincare). Even if you’re not a skincare aficionado, this is a stellar opportunity to fill your medicine cabinet with essentials to get your skin *glowing*—especially sunscreen! By protecting against skin cancer and premature skin aging, it’s the single most important product in your routine (and as long as it provides at least SPF 15, broad-spectrum protection, you can buy it with your HSA or FSA).

Here are a few eligible sunscreen options to shield you from the sun’s harsh rays:

• Soleil Toujours’ Face + Body High SPF Duo, a bundle of high-protection (SPF 50) sunscreens to shield your face and body (without a greasy or sticky feel)
• Soleil Toujours’ Face Glow Tinted Moisturizer, the brand’s hero product with broad-spectrum mineral protection, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide with a sheer tint for more luminous skin
• Agent Nateur’s holi (sun) SPF Dewy Tinted Skin Drops, a multitasking formula that acts as both sunscreen and foundation to simplify your routine while preventing sun damage

But sunscreen isn’t the only skincare product that’s automatically HSA/FSA-eligible; treatments for specific skin conditions, like acne, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis, also qualify. This means you can purchase products to control flare-ups (like Gladskin for eczema or Proactiv for acne) with your pre-tax income.

And for a little something special to bring your routine to the next level, consider these eligible skincare tools:

• PMD Clean, a medical-grade silicone sonic facial cleansing brush for deep pore cleansing and winner of the title “Best Facial Cleansing Brush” from Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and ELLE
• Capillus EyeLift, a pro-grade red light therapy device specifically made to tackle tired, aging under-eyes
• WTHN Face Cupping Kit, a set of silicone cups that use gentle suction to rejuvenate the skin on your face, jaw, and neck

Upgrade Your Recovery Routine.

Recovery routines aren’t just for pro athletes: they can squeeze every last benefit out of your workouts by promoting muscle repair and preventing burnout. Plus, if you need some motivation to push harder in your next exercise sesh, a shiny new recovery gadget could be just what you need.

Most recovery tools aren’t automatically HSA/FSA-eligible (like first aid, period products, and sunscreen are), but can earn eligible status with a Letter of Medical Necessity from a doctor. If you choose your recovery goodies from our HSA/FSA Shop, you can snag that letter 100% online through Truemed. Here are a few awesome options:

• The Shakti Wonderball, a portable, spiky acupressure ball designed to release tension in your feet, hands, calves, and back
• The HEALiX Revive, a red light therapy panel that emits red (660nm) and near-infrared (850nm) light to support all sorts of wellness goals, like muscle recovery, inflammation, energy, and skin health
• Rally’s Orbital Massager, a handheld massage device that uses smooth rotations at 1600 to 3200 RPM to knead sore muscles and joints more gently than the average massage gun

Wellness-ify Your Home.

Refreshing your home can work wonders for your body and mind. And if you can use your pre-tax dollars for those purchases? Even better!

These eligible finds from our Shop can fit effortlessly into your routine, making you feel healthier (without a complete habit overhaul). Here are a few of our favorites:

• BioLight™ Full Spectrum Light, a bulb that delivers the full spectrum of light, mimicking natural sunlight to help regulate your circadian rhythm and ward off seasonal mood shifts
• Branch’s Duo Standing Desk, with two independent electric height-adjustable sides so you and your work buddy don’t have to agree on the ideal height while you work
• Levoit’s LV-H132 Personal Air Purifier, ideal for removing 99.97% of airborne particles in rooms like bedrooms, offices, and nurseries

Every eligible purchase is a chance to invest in something that actually makes you feel better, not just check a box before the deadline.

Ready to see everything that qualifies? We built an entire collection for you:

🔗 https://stridekick.com/shop/hsa-fsa

FAQs: Spending Your HSA/FSA

Before you dive into some pre-tax retail therapy, let’s answer some of the most common questions about spending the funds in an HSA or FSA.

What’s the difference between an HSA and FSA?

An HSA (Health Savings Account) is yours, even if you change jobs, while an FSA (Flexible Spending Account) is owned by your employer. To have an HSA, you’ll need to be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)—FSAs don’t require this.

Do HSA/FSA funds expire?

HSA funds never expire; they roll over from year to year (procrastinators rejoice!). FSA funds, on the other hand, usually expire at the end of each year, although certain plans offer a grace period or limited carryover. Always check your plan as early as possible in the year to avoid wasted funds.

For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our article: What Happens to Unused HSA or FSA Funds?

Can I use my HSA/FSA for a gym membership?

Gym memberships aren’t usually eligible unless they’re used for a diagnosed condition, like obesity. In this case, you’ll need a Letter of Medical Necessity from a doctor to receive reimbursement.

Are OTC meds HSA/FSA eligible?

They sure are: all over-the-counter medicines are eligible for HSA/FSA reimbursement under the CARES Act.