Make the most of your FSA dollars for dental and vision care

Posted on September 3, 2026 in Healthy You

building blocks that spell FSA

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a smart way to save for your healthcare purchases. When you enroll in an FSA through your employer, the money you contribute comes out of your paycheck before it is taxed, which helps lower your taxable income while setting aside dollars to use for eligible health expenses.¹

If you’ve been putting off scheduling your twice-yearly dental visit or eye exam, August is a great time to check your FSA balance and make a plan to spend your savings before the end of the year.

What is an FSA?

An FSA is an employer-sponsored account that allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars from your paycheck for qualified medical, dental and vision expenses throughout the year. Depending on your employer’s plan, funds may be available through a debit card or expenses will be reimbursed to you.⁴

Because contributions are made before taxes, you can lower your taxable income and save money on everyday health expenses that you were already planning to buy. But there are limits to how much you can save in a FSA. In 2026, the contribution limit for a FSA is $3,400 per year. The contribution limit for a dependent care FSA is $7,500 for individuals who are single or married and filing jointly.²

Another important note about FSAs: They are not the same as health savings accounts (HSAs). Although FSAs and HSAs are both funded by pre-tax dollars and used for qualified health expenses, FSAs generally must be used during the plan year, although some employers may offer a grace period or allow a limited amount of unused funds to carry over. HSAs, on the other hand, do not have a use-it-or-lose-it requirement.³

Also, FSAs are employer-sponsored (HSAs can be established by an individual or employer). Another key difference is HSAs are used alongside a high deductible health plan, and FSAs generally can be offered alongside different types of health coverage, depending on the plan.³

How to spend your FSA: What’s covered and what’s not

You can’t use your FSA dollars on everything. For example, at-home dental products like toothbrushes, floss (including water flossers) and toothpaste aren’t FSA eligible. Neither are cosmetic dental procedures like tooth whitening. On the vision side, only medically necessary eyewear is covered, so non-prescription sunglasses and glasses are not FSA eligible.^4,5,6,7

However, your FSA dollars can pay for these oral and vision care expenses:^4,6,7

Dental exams and cleanings
Fillings, crowns and root canals
Orthodontic treatment, including braces
Prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses
Contact lenses and contact solution
Comprehensive eye exams
LASIK vision correction procedures

Don’t forget the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule

One of the most important things to know about FSAs is that unused money may expire at the end of the plan year. Some employers offer a grace period to give you some extra time to spend your FSA funds after the year ends or allow some dollars to rollover into the next year, but not all plans do.¹

Late summer and early fall is a good time to review your account balance and estimate your upcoming health expenses for the rest of the year. If you wait until November and December to spend your dollars, it may be too late to sneak in appointments during the busy holiday rush.

If you have a big balance remaining in your FSA account, here are some ideas on ways to spend those dollars:

See your dentist for a preventive visit before the end of the year
Get a replacement retainer or mouthguard
Buy new glasses or contact lenses
Purchase backup prescription eyewear
Get a comprehensive eye exam

Planning ahead can help you avoid losing money you already set aside.

Lower your taxes and save for your health: A win-win

FSAs encourage you to save for your health and wellness, and many eligible expenses support your oral and vision health. By using your pre-tax dollars for eligible dental and vision expenses, you can take care of your mouth and eyes while possibly reducing your overall tax payment.¹

If you have an FSA, now is a good time to log into your account, review your balance and make a plan to use your remaining dollars before they expire.

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