A Next Season Resource
It's your money. You already paid for it. Here's how to actually spend it before it disappears.
Every year, people forfeit billions in FSA money because they think it only covers copays and prescriptions. Meanwhile your HSA balance sits there quietly while you buy the same stuff with your regular debit card, full price, after tax.
This is your cheat sheet. Nine things your plan probably covers that you're not buying, plus the real rules on using these accounts when you're getting care outside the US. Brought to you by Next Season, the free tool for navigating perimenopause, ADHD, and burnout at work without oversharing.
Two stamps to know: APPROVED means grab it with your card, no questions asked. NEEDS DOC'S NOTE means you need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a provider first, tying the item to an actual diagnosis. Skip the letter and you're paying full price plus risking a denied claim.
Qualifies when a provider ties it to asthma, allergies, mold sensitivity, sinusitis, or eczema. Buying one because your apartment feels stuffy doesn't count. Buying one because your allergist told you to does.
$50–$300+
See FSA Store's list →Treated as a "dual-purpose" device: eligible when a provider documents pain, inflammation, or a joint or skin condition. Buying it purely for glow and vibes is a personal expense, not a medical one.
$150–$600+
Get an LMN online →Lotions, sticks, sprays, tinted formulas, mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, even SPF lip balm. No note required. Tanning oil doesn't count, obviously.
$10–$30
Browse eligible sunscreen →OTC products treating a diagnosed condition, acne, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, qualify. The line: "eczema therapy" cream is eligible, "anti-wrinkle" cream from the same brand is not.
$10–$30
Check a specific product →Back pain, cramps, muscle tension. Neck wraps and lumbar pads count too. Most plans don't require a note, just keep the receipt.
$10–$50
See eligible brands →Frames, lenses, contacts, prescription sunglasses, for you and your dependents. A $300 pair effectively costs $180 to $210 after the tax savings.
This now includes smart glasses. As of April 2026, Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta, and Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses are FSA/HSA eligible when ordered with prescription lenses, card swipes at checkout, no reimbursement paperwork. The AI features ride along with the lenses; the prescription is what makes it qualify.
Save ~30–40%
Shop Meta's Rx AI glasses →The easiest yes on this whole list. Standard receipt, no note, no drama.
$10–$50
See options →Plantar fasciitis, flat feet, heel pain. Has to be marketed for a medical or orthopedic purpose, "performance" inserts for running don't qualify.
$15–$60
Browse orthotics →A licensed service, not a product, so it's eligible the way any medical visit is. Great stress and chronic pain option that people forget lives in this account.
Varies by session
Confirm eligibility →Half of these symptoms driving you to buy heating pads and red light panels? Perimenopause, ADHD, and burnout are usually the real story underneath.
Try Next Season, free →Getting a checkup in Mexico, dental work in Turkey, or any care outside the US? Your FSA and HSA still work. The IRS doesn't care what country you were in. It cares whether the care meets the same definition it always uses.
Turkey is a global hub for hair transplants, veneers, and cosmetic rhinoplasty. Almost none of that is FSA/HSA eligible, because it's cosmetic, and cosmetic procedures are excluded regardless of where you have them done.
What does qualify: dental implants for a functional issue, diagnostic imaging, necessary surgery, bariatric procedures tied to a documented medical condition.
Dental work, bariatric surgery, and routine diagnostic tests are commonly reimbursed since they're clearly medical care under the same rules that apply at home.
The trap: pharmacy runs. Medication purchased in Mexico and carried back into the US isn't a qualified expense, even if the same drug is sold at your pharmacy at home.
Your Next Step
Next Season is a free, private tool built mainly for women navigating perimenopause, and it works just as well if ADHD or plain burnout is the thing making work harder than it should be. A 3-minute check-in reads your energy and focus, then hands you work-safe scripts for the conversation you've been avoiding, plus your actual rights under the ADA and FMLA. No account required to start, no oversharing required ever.
Start your free check-in → nextseason.techStay in the loop
Practical scripts, rights updates, and quiet strategies for navigating work when your body or brain is working differently. No spam, no oversharing.