FSA open enrollment started November 10th, if I’m being honest, it used to be one of those emails I’d immediately ignore, and the flyers in the mail...I just trashed right away. The words “Flexible Spending Account” just sounded…complicated. However, earlier this year, after a few surprising sick days that popped up, I finally learned the hard way about how much money I could’ve saved if I’d just checked that FSA box.
Here’s What I Wish I’d Known Then:
- FSA isn’t some confusing government gimmick, it is actually one of the easiest ways for military families, like mine, to save money on things we are already paying for.
- It lets you set aside part of your paycheck before taxes to cover medical, dental, vision, and even dependent care expenses.
- Since it is pre-tax, it’s basically like giving yourself an instant coupon every time you go to the doctor, buy prescriptions, or even pick up a few cabinet staples everyone always has in their home, like over the counter pain reliever and even tissues.
I have learned now that I should think of it as a little safety net for the unpredictable life we live…especially when government shutdowns happen, or other emergencies start to take a bite into our savings accounts. Between PCS moves, deployments, kids who seem to take turns catching every bug around school, and the stress of managing it all, expenses pop up constantly for every family no matter what. With a FSA, at least the money is sitting there, already waiting for when you need something.
When I moved from North Carolina to California, I needed new glasses, a second round of Invisalign, and a new retainer all in the same month. Yikes! If we would have had a FSA back then, I could have just submitted my receipts and saved myself a lot of money!
Of course, there’s the “use it or lose it” rule; however, if you look back at what you spent last year:
- copays from appointments
- over-the-counter meds like ibuprofen, stomach relief, and cough drops
- random household items like sunscreen, lip balm, bug spray, and heating pads
- appointments that have lab fees, x-ray, and imaging that insurance didn't fully cover
- and more items that you may have found on our Amazon storefront section "Our FSA Footprint"
It is pretty easy to estimate what you will actually use, and you will probably always use it. The peace of mind alone was worth it. No scrambling, no guilt, and no last-minute panic. Just one less thing to stress about while my significant other is off somewhere else in the world.
With open enrollment arriving already, don’t skip it again! You have until December 8th (2025) to sign up. I promise you won’t regret it. Sit down, look at what you spent last year, and make the FSA work for you. If you need help making an estimate, My Military Savings has shared helpful tools like the FSA calculator and more to plan your FSA. Military life is unpredictable enough, your finances don’t have to be.
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