What Is A Flexible Spending Account
An FSA account is similar to a HSA, with some key differences. A FSA also allows you to set aside pre-tax income to pay for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses. Each year, you can set the level youâd like to contribute, and your payroll deductions are spread out accordingly over the course of the year.
- A key difference from a HSA is that the FSA contribution limit is $2,850 for 2022.
- One of the great things about a FSA is that you can access the full annual amount of your contributions, even if you havenât made all of your pre-tax contributions yet!
- However, there is a âuse it or lose itâ provision where you must use the full contribution amount by the end of the year, or else youâll forfeit those funds. That being said, there may be a grace period for some plans, check with your employer for details.
Can I Use Fsa Or Hsa For Contacts
If you have a prescription for contact lenses, theyre definitely covered with an FSA or HSA plan. So are the associated contact lens care items, like saline and cleaning solution. Costume lenses or contact lenses designed to change your eye color wont be covered, since they dont correct your vision. Sorry.
Why Are Hsas And Fsas Popular Options For Financing Lasik In 2022
HSAs and FSAs are a great way to use tax-free money to pay for refractive eye surgery. Depending on how much money you set aside, these funds could cover the procedure in full.
With a FSA, you can also use it for a cash advance. Thatâs because youâll be able to use the entire amount you set aside for the year right away. For example, if you commit to $2,600 for the entire year, youâll be able to use that amount starting in January. Even though your FSA payroll deduction may only be $100 per pay period, youâll still be able to use the entire $2,600 upfront, before youâve even contributed it to the account.
Read Also: Florida Bar Exam Passage Rate
How To Use My Fsa And Hsa On Eyewear
Turns out, its super easy.
Can Hsa/fsa Benefits Be Used For Eye Surgeries Like Lasik Cataracts Or Glaucoma
The prospect of eye surgery can be daunting not only because its a medical procedure, but because it can be expensive. Dont let either of these things prevent you from receiving the sight-preserving surgery you need. Find out how a Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account can help you pay for your eye surgery.
You May Like: Clep Exam Spanish Practice Test
How Does Fsa Work
What exactly is an FSA? When you sign up for an FSA, money from each paycheck is automatically deposited into an account. You can use this account to pay for health expenses that aren’t covered by insurance. You decide on the amount in advance, and since the contributions aren’t taxed, each dollar goes farther.
An FSA can provide you with tax-free dollars to use toward any eye care expenses not covered by your vision insurance plan. Is there a catch? Just one: use it or lose it. So don’t wait until the end of the year. Schedule your eye exam anytime in the year, prior to your FSA’s deadline to take advantage of this great benefit.
Using Your Hsa On Glasses
Whether youve been a lifelong wearer of prescription glasses or require eyeglasses for the first time, purchasing the right pair is surely a financial investment. And while some glasses wearers are fortunate enough to have vision insurance, others have to pay for eyewear costs out of pocket. Fortunately, a health savings account offers an easy way to pay for glasses without tapping into your day-to-day budget. If you make contributions to an HSA, Cohens Fashion Optical explains how you can use those funds to cover the costs of eyeglasses, contacts, and more.
What is an HSA?
HSAs are open to individuals who receive insurance coverage through a high-deductible health plan . They serve as an option for these plan holders to put pre-tax money aside for potential medical expenses, as well as to decrease their taxable income. Some HDHP participants are offered HSAs through their employer, while others open one on their own as long as they have a qualifying HDHP.
The way an HSA works is quite simple. HDHP holders determine how much money theyd like to save in their HSA, which can be done through automatic payroll deductions or manual deposits. Although the government sets a limit on how much money can be placed in an HSA each year, unused funds roll over each year. That means theres no hurry to use your savings, offering a huge benefit compared to flexible spending accounts.
How do I use my HSA funds on eyeglasses?
Why should I use my HSA at Cohens Fashion Optical?
Also Check: Ncsbn Nclex Practice Exam Free
How To Claim Vision Insurance Benefits With Clearly
Make sure to check the details of your coverage beforehand, so you know whats covered by your provider and how much you might be required to pay yourself.
1. Place your order
For more tips, learn how to buy glasses or how to buy contacts online.
2. Wait for your receipt
Once youve received your glasses or contacts, well email you a receipt. You can also find this receipt in your MyAccount. Youll need it to submit a claim to your provider.
Please note this will only be sent after your eyewear has shipped. The confirmation email you get right after youve ordered online isnt acceptable proof of purchase for most providers.
If youre having trouble locating your receipt, check your spam folder first or contact us by email, live chat or call 1-866-414-2326.
3. Submit your claim
The process for this will vary, depending on your provider. Typically, when you submit a claim online, youll need to:
- Log into your insurance dashboard
- Fill in the submission form and attach a copy of your invoice.
- Submit your claim. The reimbursement process and timeline will vary, depending on your provider.
Eye Exams And Screening
Comprehensive eye exams typically include refraction, as well as screening for glaucoma, cataracts and other potentially serious visual conditions.
Dont neglect your vision its a vital part of your health. If youre due for an eye exam, be sure to check with your HSA provider to validate what is covered by your plan.
Page published on Thursday, September 26, 2019
Page updated on Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Schedule an exam
Read Also: Ny Real Estate Exam Prep
How To Use Hsa To Pay For Lasik Surgery
With your HSA, as mentioned above, there isnât a time limit to utilize the funds. You can fund your HSA every year up to the contribution limit . You can use it as you go, or you can save up until you have enough money to cover your LASIK procedure.
If your employer offers an FSA account , you typically canât have one in addition to your HSA, but there are exceptions to this. Check with your employer for details on this.
You Can Invest The Money
If you are not planning to use your HSA anytime soon, you can invest the balance and use the account to save money for retirement. Of course, it is a good idea to speak to your financial adviser about any investments you plan to make.
NVISION Eye Centers offer custom LASIK, affordable pricing plans, and a lifetime guarantee. Learn More
Read Also: Aaa Life Insurance No Medical Exam
What’s The Benefit Of Using My Hsa Or Fsa
Because HSAs and FSAs are tax-exempt accounts used to offset the cost of healthcare, every penny you put into it can pay for eligible expenses, tax-free.1 And since some vision-related expenses are not covered by health insurance, you can save money by using your HSA or FSA to cover those costs.
Looking at our data, from spend made via card transactions, around 25 percent of dollars spent from HealthEquity HSAs and HRAs are for dental and vision expenses.
What Is An Hsa
A Health Savings Account is a tax-exempt bank account you can use to pay for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses. To qualify for an HSA, you must enroll in a high-deductible health plan. You may be able to open an account through your employer if they offer the option. Otherwise, you can sign up on your own if you are eligible for an HSA.
Once you open an HSA, the IRS allows you to set aside a certain amount of money in your HSA per year. The contribution limits may fluctuate from year to year, so be sure to check with the IRS before funding your account.
For 2021, you can contribute up to $3,600 for individual coverage or $7,200 for family coverage in your HSA. These funds can be used for many medical procedures and services, including eyeglasses, contact lenses, cataract surgery, and laser eye surgeries such as LASIK and PRK.
Questions about LASIK? to speak with an experienced Patient Counselor who can answer all your questions and set up a free consultation. No commitment required.
Don’t Miss: Scrum Master Certification Practice Exam
How Does Hsa Work
Depending on your insurance plan, your employer may offer an HSA instead of an FSA. Typically an HSA is offered with high deductible insurance plans. Unlike an FSA, the money put into an HSA does not have a use-it-or-lose-it policy.
Instead, it earns interest over time and can be used as a rainy-day fund when healthcare expenses pop up. Just like an FSA, you can usually use HSA dollars to purchase glasses and pay for other vision expenses like eye exams, prescription sunglasses and contacts, so check your policy.
The benefits of an FSA sound appealing but you didnt participate this year? Talk to the HR expert in your office to find out when you might be eligible to enroll. Then, you can put FSA money towards health expenses like new glasses!
Can I Use Fsa Or Hsa To Buy Glasses
Absolutely, yes. HSA and FSA funds can be used at online and brick-and-mortar retailers to buy glassesbasically anywhere that sells prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, and prescription contact lenses. Some retailers accept payment directly via HSA and FSA debit cards. If you dont have your card at the time of purchase, you can apply for reimbursement with your provider.
Don’t Miss: Americas Best Free Eye Exam
Contact Us To Utilize Your Fsa And Hsa Funds And Start Off 2015 In A More Fashionable Way
We are Miami Beach HSA/FSA eyecare specialists. Whether you live next door to the office in South Beach, Miami Beach or anywhere in South Florida we can help. Call us to schedule your eye exam with our nationally board certified optometrist or stop by to pick out your new eyeglasses and sunglasses from our exclusive brand new winter fashion lines today. Hurry as 2014 is almost over!
What Can I Pay For With My Hsa Funds
Funds must be spent on qualified medical expenses and can be used to pay for expenses not covered by your health insurance.
The Internal Revenue Service has guidelines defining qualified medical expenses, which include costs toward diagnosis, treatment or prevention of any illness or disease affecting any part of the body, including vision care.
Vision services and products covered by an HSA include:
Also Check: Can You Get Birth Control Pills Without An Exam
Why Should I Use My Fsa/hsa For Vision
If youre taking advantage of your companys FSA or HSA as part of your health plan, your vision care is about to get a significant upgrade. FSA/HSA funds can go a long way in covering necessary optical expenses like eye exams, prescription frames, eye care supplies, and more. But before we dive into the many ways you can use FSA for vision, heres a crash course on these added medical benefits.
Signing up for an FSA means you can choose an amount to be deducted from your paycheck over the year before taxes . This money is designated to cover a variety of eligible medical expenses, including vision care, but must be used in full before the year is out or you lose the funds.
HSAs, on the other hand, dont have the same use-it-or-lose-it rule and often earn interest over time. However, HSAs are only offered with high deductible insurance plans.
So why spend FSA/HSA money on vision care? Chances are youll probably get the most for your money in this particular category. Heres why:
Does Clearly Take Insurance
Yes, you can claim back the cost of your Clearly eyewear through your workplace benefits program, private insurance plan, or FSA and HSA funds.
We dont currently do direct billing, so youll need to process your claim with your provider after youve purchased your glasses or contact lenses.
Details for your insurance provider:
- Supplier name: Clearly
- Supplier email address: customerservice@clearly.ca
- Supplier address: 2200-401 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC Canada, V6B 5A1
- Proof of purchase: After your order has shipped, you will receive an email equipped with your tracking number and official receipt. Itll also be available in your MyAccount.
Also Check: Eye Exam And Glasses Without Insurance
When Your Hsa Comes With A Deadline
If youve combined an HSA with whats known as a limited-purpose FSA , you do need to put a big red circle around December 31 on your calendar as a reminder to spend that money.
Smaller in scope than regular FSAs, an LPFSA lets you use pretax money for vision and dental expenses only. Theyre a good option if youre trying to hold onto HSA funds for major medical expenses or for your medical needs in retirement and know that youll need replacement contact lenses or to upgrade an eyeglass prescription.
As the name implies, LPFSAs dont cover a whole lot. Some only pick up the cost of eye exams, contact lenses, and prescription glasses, for example. Before you head to the shop to use your leftover funds, make sure you understand what your LPFSA covers. Check to see if you can use it for these typical expenses.
Looking For A Better Benefits Solution
Whatever your business, we have a benefits solution for you!
Get the latest Benefits Buzz news in your inbox.
Ready for WEX Benefits to simplify your business?
Our payments platform technologies give you everything you need to run an advanced payments program in one place, including the expertise to make payments smarter, faster, and more profitable.
Sign up to get new Benefits Buzz blog posts delivered to your inbox.
Get the latest Health Trends & Insights news in your inbox.
Don’t Miss: Firefighter Civil Service Exam 2022
Vision Care For Children
Most health insurance plans for adults that are sold on the Marketplace don’t provide cover for vision or oral care. The rules are different for children, however, and the Affordable Care Act requires that pediatric eye care be included in all Marketplace plans. This means parents should find that most of their children’s eye care expenses are covered by the insurance company and out-of-pocket expenses are kept to a minimum.
Where Can You Use Your Fsa Or Hsa Dollars To Buy Glasses
HSA and FSA funds can be used at retailers that sell prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses and prescription contact lenses.
Some retailers accept payment via HSA and FSA cards, but if this is not an option or if you dont have your card at the time of purchase, you can apply for reimbursement with your provider.
Its worth noting that Walmart specifically does not accept HSA or FSA cards as payment, so you will need to pay for any qualifying purchases with a regular debit or credit card and send your receipt to your provider for reimbursement.
Also Check: What Doctor Does Prostate Exam
Differences Between Hsa And Fsa Regarding Vision Costs
You may be wondering if the money you’ve been carefully putting into a flexible spending account or health savings account is in jeopardy. Some of these accounts have a “use it or lose it” policy to them, requiring you to spend what you put into them before the calendar year is out.
If you have money sitting in your account, you may not be sure what to do with it. The good news is there are a lot of unexpected avenues for spending those unused funds, including vision care through The EyeDoctors Optometrists.
To help you decide how to use these dollars, here’s a look at exactly how FSAs and HSAs work and what vision costs you can cover with them. While there are some differences between HSAs and FSAs when it comes to vision costs, the team at The EyeDoctors Optometrists has broken it down for you below.
Use Your Hsa When: You Need To Treat An Eye Condition
The drops or ointments your optometrist prescribes for an eye infection or to relieve dry eye symptoms are a legit HSA expense. Things like cataract surgery and eye pressure monitors for people with a damaged optic nerve due to glaucoma are also covered.
Using HSA funds to take care of the health of your eyes can save you a lot of cash, says Beck.
You May Like: Dr. D Social Work Exam Prep