Sure, we love shopping for gifts and the best deals, but we love spending our hard-earned FSA and HSA dollars even more.

Before 2023 ends, it’s a good idea to apply your use-it-or-lose-it funds. Aside from most doctor visits and prescribed medications, you can also use them online before January begins. Items like first-aid kits, blood pressure monitors, thermometers and more can be delivered to your door — or else, you won’t be able to redeem your stashed-away cash.

Additionally, it’s important to understand all the ins and outs of the FSA (flexible spending accounts) and HSA (health savings accounts) programs so you can shop smarter. That’s why we consulted an expert to talk all things FSA and HSA before the calendar year comes to a clsoe.

“You would be surprised at all the ways you can spend your FSA and HSA dollars,” Rachel Rouleau, chief compliance officer at Health E-Commerce, the parent brand to the FSA Store and HSA Store, told the New York Post. “The FSA Store and HSA Store carry more than 2,500 IRS-eligible products that people buy every day.”

Ahead, the New York Post pulled together the top items that are FSA- and HSA-eligible, along with notes on how the programs work and how to redeem your funds, in our in-depth FAQ section below.

Caring Mill by Aura Pain Relief Trio Bundle

The FSA Store is a wonderful destination to pick up FSA and HSA-eligible items, and the Caring Mill by Aura Pain Relief Trio Bundle is what we recommend. Though a splurge, it’s an investment in your health (and, what better way to make a high-ticket purchase when you can shuffle some pre-tax funds toward it?)

As one of the best thermometer brands we rounded up, Vicks is eligible for FSA and HSA redemption on Amazon. Its ComfortFlex Digital Thermometer is less than $15, is applauded by nearly 7,000 satisfied shoppers and holds one of the fastest temperature readings to make life easier.

Invest in a quality blood pressure monitor if you don’t have one already with the Greater Goods Bluetooth Blood Pressure Monitor with Upper Arm Cuff. We recommend this model, specifically, because it features a meter with a large, easy-to-read display and comes with a tubing and device bag included with purchase.

Invest in a quality sunscreen that’s one of our personal favorites. We recommend the Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 because it doesn’t leave a white cast, is both water- and sweat-resistant and can easily be tossed into your beach bag (or work tote, because you should be wearing SPF daily).

Meet one of our readers’ all-time favorite products: the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser for Teeth. Now, it’s on an incredible sale (and, helps to erase even more plaque than the standard toothbrush), so it’s even more worthy of the FSA and HSA pick-me-up.

For more options, check out our expert-backed guides to the best water flossers, electric toothbrushes and whitening toothpastes.

Yes, at-home COVID tests are eligible for your FSA and HSA spend. Our favorite brand for quick-action results is On/Go Rapid COVID-19 Self-Test Kit. It’s incredibly simple to use and is less than $10 per each kit.

Now’s the time to put your pre-tax dollars toward hearing aids if you’ve been shopping around for a quality pair. Based on our research, we recommend the Jabra Enhance Select 100 Hearing Aids, as they’re rechargeable and available in both basic and premium options.

We love our Warby Parker frames, and a pair we deem flattering on everyone is the Warby Parker Whalen Eyeglasses. Starting at $95, the brand allows you to upload your optometry prescription and they’ll ship directly to your door. It’s that easy!

For more options, check out our guide to the best eyeglasses and frames.

For only $10, put your FSA and HSA dollars toward the Welly Bravery Badge Value Pack | Adhesive Flexible Fabric Bandages (100-Count). You can never have too many, after all.

Stay protected with the Well Before N95 Mask (10-Pack) — one of our most-recommended brands for face masks. This one features a sewn-in respirator for easier breathing, too. Plus, you’ll have a full bundle to keep on hand at all things.

Stay prepared for inevitable injuries by purchasing the Ohuhu Ice Packs for Injuries (2-Pack). For less than $25 on Amazon, this brand is raved-about by more than 1,000 satisfied shoppers and is one we’ve seen everywhere.

If you’re on the hunt for a new breast pump, pick up the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump. This model, in particular, has racked up nearly 16,000 gleaming reviews and is single hand-compatible for a more comfortable way to use it.

Stock up on your hygiene products with the Always Infinity Feminine Pads (78-Count). TMI (maybe?) but the brand is one of the most comfortable to wear and comes in a variety of variations for your best cycle yet.

For more options, check out our guide to the best period underwear.

The Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Duo is one of the best pimple patches we’ve rounded up (and tried, simply because they work well and don’t irritate even sensitive skin). For less than $10, pick up a dozen of them to have on hand for those pesky, unwanted flare-ups.

Yes, Peter Thomas Roth is FSA- and HSA-eligible this year (and we’re about to throw ourselves a party). If you have dry skin or simply are looking for a new refreshing moisturizer, the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream Hydrating Moisturizer is available in small and large sizes for you to redeem pre-tax!

Stock up on pregnancy tests — but not just any. The First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test (3-Count) are recommended by more than 32,000 shoppers (and counting!) as they’re said to be more than 99% accurate and can be taken six days before your missed period.

For some quick-action relief, you can’t go wrong with a massage gun. The Sharper Image Powerboost Deep Tissue Percussion Massager is less than $100 and will be one of your best purchases to use your FSA or HSA dollars on by the end of the year — guaranteed.

We reviewed 23andMe and, we must say, it was (1) an insightful process and (2) allowed us to meet some long-lost family members from a different state! Not only is this a great investment for yourself but it also makes a quality gift for anyone on your list.

Using a lip balm with SPF is often forgotten, but don’t let it be in 2024. The Sun Bum Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 is one of the most nourishing (and affordable) options to pick up and keep in your back pocket at all times.

If you’re on the hunt for a moisturizing body lotion that you’ll want to use on repeat post-shower, grab the Gold Bond Age Renew Strength & Resilience Lotion before the end of the year. We love how its formulation helps tighten the skin with consistent use, which is especially great to target anti-aging concerns.

Grab top-rated eye drops ahead of 2024. The ones we recommend are the Refresh Contact Lens Comfort Eye Drops as they hail from a brand we trust and are moisture-rich to help combat dryness — especially for contacts wearers.

Ahead, Rouleau explains what to know about using your FSA and HSA dollars before 2023 ends — among other helpful tips.

“An FSA is an employer-sponsored benefit that allows employees to set aside
pre-tax payroll dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses,” Rouleau said. “The IRS defines eligible expenses for FSAs, and the list includes a wide variety of medical products and services, including co-pays, costs associated with medical procedures, everyday health and wellness items and much more.”

“An FSA is a tax-advantaged spending account that allows eligible employees to set aside money from their pay before taxes to spend on qualified medical expenses,” Rouleau explained. “If an FSA holder incurs a qualifying medical expense, they can usually use an FSA debit card to access their funds to pay for it, or they can pay for it out of pocket and be reimbursed by submitting a claim after.”

An FSA is typically managed by a third-party administrator (which can be a company’s human resource department), and FSA holders often have access to keep track of their balances, deadlines and other important FSA information through an online account.

The IRS determines what is eligible. “In the past few years, Congress and the IRS have expanded eligibility, giving consumers even more flexibility to use their tax-free health care dollars for everyday health products and services,” Rouleau adds.

Not to mention, the FSA Store and HSA Store offer the industry’s most comprehensive, searchable eligibility list to make budgeting and spending tax-free dollars simple.

An HSA is a health savings account,” Itamar Romanini, vice president and general manager of the HSA Store, told The Post. “This tax-advantaged account also allows individuals to set aside pre-tax payroll dollars into a special account that can be used throughout the year to pay for IRS-approved healthcare expenses.”

You must be enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan to open an HSA, either on your own or through your employer. HSA funds roll over from year to year, and can be invested. HSAs offer a triple tax advantage: No tax going in, no tax on balance accumulation, no tax when used for eligible expenses. 

An individual can enroll in an HSA through their employer-sponsored benefits or on their own, as long as they are enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan, according to Romanini. Individuals may typically enroll in an HSA at any time, although expenses only become eligible once the account has actually been opened.

“The individual designates how much they want to contribute (based on the current IRS mandated contribution limits) and contributions can either be made through automated payroll deductions or manually by the individual as they are able to contribute,” Romanini explains. “Funds contributed outside of pre-tax payroll deductions may be deducted from taxes at tax time.”

To use HSA funds, the individual can use an HSA debit card (if available) or they can pay out of pocket for expenses and reimbursement themselves later.  

HSAs may be used to pay for the same products and services that will qualify with an FSA, and the eligibility of those products and services is governed by the IRS. 

If ordering from an FSA- and HSA-eligible brand or retailer online, you can use a smart debit card connected to your account or pay providers directly through your online portal. You can also order as your normally would and submit receipts for reimbursement.

Be sure to check with your employer to understand which options your company prefers.

Most people think of co-pays, dental visits, elective procedures like Lasik, glasses or
contacts when they think of using an FSA or HSA,” Rouleau said. “However, an FSA can be used to purchase thousands of everyday healthcare items, so account holders can protect their health and well-being year-round.”

OTC medications are consistently a top seller, too, because these are products that everybody needs and uses, and that they buy on a recurring basis. “Other new, surprisingly eligible items include Byte Aligners, OTC hearing aids, high-tech pain relief devices and wheels, the Aura migraine device, and a podiatry device, to name a few,” Rouleau adds.

Here are some FSA- and HSA-eligible products to pick up:

For HSAs, there are no spending deadlines. However, account holders who want to make contributions for the prior tax year, must do so by the tax filing deadline. For example, you can make a contribution for 2023 up until April 15 (the 2024 tax filing deadline). For FSAs, the primary deadlines are: 

Using an FSA or HSA to pay for healthcare expenses is an excellent way to fight inflation because you are using tax-free dollars.

“The money you contribute to an FSA or HSA decreases your taxable income, plus there is no tax or penalty to withdraw that money for eligible expenses,” Rouleau says. “Depending on your tax bracket, consumers can save up to 30% (or more) on everyday healthcare needs by using FSA or HSA funds.”

Yes, as of Sept. 2021, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced COVID tests as an “eligible medical expense” that can be paid reimbursed under health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs).

Aside from the FSA Store, you can also redeem your leftover FSA or HSA dollars on Amazon. To redeem, place your order on amazon.com/fsa and submit your invoice to your benefit administrator for reimbursement.

Check out the New York Post Shopping section for more content.