Tech-based health devices are all the rage, but here’s something you might not know: If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) for out-of-pocket medical costs, you may be able to use that money to purchase a wide range of high-tech health items.
What is a flexible spending account?
An FSA is money you can set aside to pay for healthcare-related expenses like copayments, deductibles and some medications.
The big deal about an FSA is that you don’t pay taxes on the money in the account. And no payroll taxes means more money in your paycheck — like an average of 30% more — and less taxable income. Also, you can use the money on eligible expenses for your partner (if you’re married) and dependents.
How does a flexible spending account work?
You sign up for an FSA during open enrollment or when you join the marketplace for health insurance or when getting a new job. You decide how much you want to put in the account ($3,400 max per person for 2026) based on what you think you’ll spend out of pocket on medical, dental, vision and health-related expenses that year.
From there, the entire amount will be available to you but taken from your paycheck throughout the year before taxes are taken out. Depending on the FSA, you will have an FSA debit card or be asked to submit receipts for reimbursement.
Tech-tastic FSA-eligible items
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Most of us associate FSA with the basics like copays, prescriptions, eyeglasses and health-related items like ibuprofen and acne cream. You know, boring stuff.
But there’s a surprising number of tech-based health devices that you can also purchase with your tax-free dollars.
- Smart glasses: If you need prescription glasses to see, you can buy smart glasses and use AI to monitor health and fitness levels in real time among other perks.
- Examples: Even G2, Solos Airgo, Ray-Ban Meta
- Rings: These wearables can help manage, monitor and even diagnose health conditions like irregular heart rhythm (Afib) and sleep disorders. Depending on the model, you may be able to track menstrual and ovulation cycles and other data specific to women’s health.
- Examples: Oura Ring, Galaxy Ring, Ultrahuman Ring
- Health bands: Health bands look beyond the basic steps of a fitness tracker to provide deeper insight into biometrics, cardiovascular health, recovery and overall data you can share with your healthcare provider (HCP) and use when making decisions about everyday health.
- Examples: Hume Band, WHOOP, Helio Strap
Other standout tech-inspired items include blood pressure monitors that connect to smart devices, red light therapy devices for skincare and oral health — even toothbrushes with high-resolution cameras so you can find problem areas for healthier gums.
Some FSA-eligible tech-forward tools for women’s health include:
- Fertility trackers
- Devices to help with hot flashes
- Devices for menstrual pain
Read: Period Pain Meets Innovation: New Devices Are Interrupting Menstrual Cramps >>
What makes an item FSA-eligible?
The IRS sets the guidelines for what’s considered a medical necessity and FSA-eligible. Before you buy, check the list of eligible items.
Some items may require a letter of medical necessity that your HCP must fill out before determining if the product is OK to purchase with FSA funds.
The increase in eligible tech-based items on the list is a good reminder that there are innovative tools out there that can make a big difference in the way we manage our health.
It’s not just band-aids: You can use your FSA on health tech
For most of us, it’s hard to prioritize our own health between work, family, caregiving and a neverending to-do list. But a little tech can go a long way to support health goals and spot possible health problems early when they’re easier to treat.
Using your FSA to get the latest innovations in health tech? Great investment.
