We’re (finally) headed into the end of the year, and it’s time to give thanks! Thanksgiving is a day full of traditions around family and food, and while this year your gatherings may look a little different, we want to share some of our favorite holiday activities and how they can be reminders to be grateful for your benefits!
You may be asking, “What do benefits from health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) have to do with Thanksgiving?” Let’s just go through one example of a holiday to see!
Thanksgiving Morning – Turkey Trot (…or not)
Are you one of those people lucky enough to belong to a family that starts the day with an early Turkey Trot? You must be so excited! Thanksgiving eve is the perfect time to fake an injury, so you can stay home to “recoup” while cheering on the others running the race (perhaps virtually this year). Just kidding! It’s the day to give the run your all, so you can eat more pie later. Pie is runner recovery food, right?
No matter which race tactic you take, ConnectYourCare can help with post-race recovery via HSAs and FSAs. These accounts let you contribute funds and then use them to pay for eligible health care items and services—before taxes. As a huge bonus for HSA account holders, any of the funds you don’t use, you can stockpile year over year and reinvest to grow your retirement savings.
On the other hand, if you’re more of the type that looks to manage their care budget in the moment, a health care FSA may be right for you. Account holders can use pre-tax FSA dollars throughout a plan year on eligible medical items and services. Some employers allow for a rollover up to $550 a year to help prevent account holders from losing any unspent funds at the end of the year.
The list of what HSAs and FSAs can be used for is extensive, and there are probably covered expenses that may surprise you! For instance…if you ran in the Turkey Trot and now your body is aching from head to toe, you might be looking for post-race pain relief. Chiropractic care and acupuncture may be eligible treatments with a letter of medical necessity from your doctor. You may want to think about making your appointment for Black Friday now!
Thanksgiving Afternoon – Backyard Football
An age-old tradition in many households is to have a fun, casual game of football in the backyard before dinner. Although this year’s game may have to be postponed until next year, we love when kids, teens, aunts, uncles, moms, and dads come together to join in the game! This includes the dad who still thinks he can do it all, even though his body is telling him otherwise, and the family dog who tackles as well as any major league linebacker. With this mix of players, it may be time to deal with a real injury (most likely the aging athlete, but you never know)!
HSAs and FSAs cover medicinal over-the-counter treatments, like pain relievers for a thrown out back or a strained shoulder. Happily, over-the-counter treatments that aren’t medicine like bandages and wraps are also eligible to be paid for with tax-free HSA and FSA funds just in case the linebacker accidentally got too paws-y. Go ahead—play your hardest!
Thanksgiving Day – Making Dinner Together
Ah the moment you’ve been waiting for…the house is filled with delicious smells, everyone’s hanging out, kids are running around, and family members are making their magic in the kitchen. This may be our favorite part!
Obviously, during this season, if gatherings are happening, no matter how small, we can’t help but think about vaccines and flu shots. Protect yourself and others with immunizations and flu shots, which are both conveniently covered by FSA and HSA funds!
And any kids running around—do they make you super-excited or nervous? You’re covered either way! Under HSAs and FSAs, many family planning items and services are also eligible expenses.
If the kids running around are yours, you can rest easy knowing many of their ordinary expenses, like dental care, eye exams, glasses and contacts, plus copays for appointments are covered. By using your tax-free HSA and FSA, you’re money ahead. Take a break from parenting and let the rest of the family enjoy their playful shenanigans!
Thanksgiving Evening – Eating and Napping
You’ve consumed a fantastic, comforting, and tasty meal. The family gathers around for games and maybe watching football on TV while do-it-all dad sits with an ice pack on his shoulder after being a stand-out quarterback earlier.
As you look around at your gathering, you ask yourself—is my family set? Am I planning for the future? Did I really need that third serving of pie?
Enter your benefits accounts again. Over-the-counter stomach remedies and indigestion treatments are covered. Stock up now before the big day! Or if nothing’s open, head to the internet. Did you know that you can easily make purchases online at ConnectYourCare’s Marketplace? You can even use your ConnectYourCare payment card to shop online, and it will take the FSA or HSA funds out of your account.
Now, it’s time to get ready for bed and drift off to sleep, counting all the things you’re thankful for—because that’s what really matters. No matter the year, no matter the circumstances, it’s nice to have a day to reflect on everything you are grateful for in your life, whether it’s a family that loves Turkey Trots and football games or an FSA or HSA that keeps them all healthy and safe.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ConnectYourCare!
Eligible expenses at a glance
Download our eligible expense sheets, listing categories of qualified health care expense examples for HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs.
About the Author:
Carla Wardin lives in St Johns, Michigan, where she focuses her writing on the health and technology industries.
