2021 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Dollars
Year-end 2021 is approaching fast, and you have FSA dollars left. FSA dollars can be a lifesaver for many people. Employees use pre-tax dollars that are not taxable. Out-of-pocket vision expenses, medical, and dental are eligible items.
Below are items that are covered (Source: FSA Store):
- Exams
The cost to cover a visit to the optometrist’s office for an eye exam is FSA eligible!:
- A standard eye exam will consist of vision tests to check close and distant vision,
- Tonometry to test for glaucoma, and a thorough exam of the inner eye after the pupils have been dilated.
- Most eye exams will only take an hour or more to complete, which provides enough time for the exam and to be fitted for a prescription vision correction method if necessary
- Over the counter (OTC) eye drops (OTC)
March is the arrival of spring allergy season, and your vision could suffer greatly during peak pollen days when contending with itchy, watery eyes.
- Anti-allergy eye drops are FSA eligible and can relieve the discomfort that often accompanies the early spring for allergy sufferers
- Surgery
Eye surgery that is necessary to correct vision loss is FSA eligible. Therefore, if you or a loved one needs corrective surgery as the result of a vision problem or a recent injury, these procedures would be covered. Also, vision correction surgeries such as LASIK are FSA eligible, so common vision issues such as presbyopia (poor far-sighted vision) and myopia (poor nearsighted vision) can be treated in a single doctor’s office visit.
- Eyeglasses / Frames
If you wear glasses, an FSA can help you save hundreds each year on the frames, lenses, and accessories you need to see clearly. Both reading and prescription eyeglasses are FSA eligible, as well as eyeglass repair kits, cleaning cloths, and sprays to help you prolong the life span and efficacy of your vision correction methods.
- Contact Lenses
Contact lens wearers must support their vision correction methods with a rigorous cleaning and maintenance regimen. Contact lenses, lens solutions, and carrying cases are daily mainstays for contact lens wearers, but luckily all of these products are FSA eligible as well. This can help contact wearers save hundreds each year on the products they use every day.
- Eye Care And Care Accessories
Eyeglass accessories are items used for prescription eyeglasses or prescription sunglasses. And therefore must be used for the adaptation, maintenance, or repair of prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses. Cosmetic, non-prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses are not eligible for reimbursement. However, eyeglass accessories that help maintain eyeglasses include
- Lens cloths
- Lens cleaning solutions
- Eyeglass protection solutions.
- Repair kits
- Eyeglass Cords
- Screwdriver kits
- Replacement nose pads
- Temple pads
Items Not Covered Under FSA
- Sunglasses
Sunglasses are only eligible for reimbursement with an FSA if they contain prescription lenses. Nonprescription sunglasses do not assist with vision correction, therefore they are not eligible for FSA reimbursement.
- Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Blue light blocking glasses are usually not FSA-eligible. However, your provider may reimburse you for a portion, or all of the cost if you need them for treatment of a medical condition.
Contact us to schedule an exam and discuss what items your FSA dollars will cover.