Now is the Time to Use Up Your Flexible Spending Account

Flexible spending accounts (FSA's) are employer-sponsored benefits that allows you to pay for eligible medical expenses on a pre-tax basis.  If you have set up one of these accounts with your employer and haven't used up the money you've set aside, now is a good time to start spending those dollars.  Most plans don't allow you to carry over money each year so you might need to get creative on how you can spend the money before you lose it.

An FSA will cover items that can be very useful to palliative care patients and their caregivers.  It allows for reimbursement for things you might be spending on regularly, such as:

• Adult diapers and other incontinent supplies
• Wound care dressings and first aid supplies
• Latex gloves
• Medical equipment (walkers, shower chairs, wheelchairs, etc.)
• Fees for hospital services, qualified long-term care services, accident and health, and qualified long-term care insurance premiums, nursing services, laboratory fees, prescription medicines and drugs, and insulin.

If you are a palliative care patient or the caregiver of one, chances are your spending money on at least one of these items.  Why not spend pre-tax dollars to get them?  Use up your hard earned money sitting in your FSA and remember to sign up for an FSA next year.