How to use your FSA or HSA for LASIK surgery in 2021

LASIK laser eye surgery is an eligible expense under both FSA and HSA for the tax year 2021. The IRS has announced new contribution limits for both the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and the Health Savings Accounts (HSA). In this article, we share those limits for 2021. Due to COVID-19, the IRS has extended the deadline until April 15, 2021.

Flexible Spending Arrangement – FSA

An FSA is a flexible spending arrangement which some employers also contribute towards on behalf of their employees. This allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars from your paycheck to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses. In 2021, the most you would need to contribute to the program is $2,750.
The main benefit is that you can access the full amount of your annual contribution election. That’s the case even if you haven’t made all the pre-tax deductions for the year. Having said that, you must use the full contribution amount within 12 months. Or, you risk losing the balance, although some plans differ. An FSA covers LASIK.

Health Savings Account – HSA

An HSA is a tax-advantage bank account that allows you to save pre-tax dollars through payroll deductions. You can use those funds to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

According to the 2021 regulations, you may set aside

• $3,600 (individual)
• $7,200 (family)

in your health savings account.

You must deposit any contributions in the HSA before you can use the money to pay for your LASIK eye surgery. It is permissible to allow the funds to accumulate until you are ready to use them. An HSA covers LASIK.

How does an FSA and HSA work?

You can use FSA dollars to pay for your LASIK surgery. Depending on the procedure, it may not cost the entirety of the cost. But, you could combine remaining funds from previous years with funds of the current year.

Financing options in an HSA are available without a time limit and you could use these funds when you have acquired enough money to cover the procedure.
Another option is using your FSA in conjunction with your HSA to fund the procedure.

Plan ahead

You need to be aware of the contribution limits, the limits of your own health care policy, and whether your employer offers you an FSA. You must then coordinate and schedule this with your doctor to avoid delays.

For more information on payment options at Memorial Eye, please get in touch!

This article uses sourced content from this blog post about FSA and HSA accounts and LASIK from the American Refractive Surgery Council.