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[deleted] t1_itwv4uh wrote

Whether your FSA and HSA have a payment card that you can use is a function of the HSA account/FSA plan and may not be something you have control over. The "overhead" of getting a receipt and submitting it for reimbursement is minimal, I'd guess that most of the time, even with a relatively cumbersome paper process, you'd spend less than 20 minutes. Every now and again, there might be a problem of some sort requiring more of your time to resolve.

You'd have to value your time pretty highly to not want to save 7.65% up to ~40% on your medical expenses thanks to using dollars not subject to payroll and income tax. If you know you will have eligible expenses, use your FSA. Also max out your HSA if you can, because that money is yours to keep forever - worst case scenario is you make it to retirement with it and can withdraw it then.

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LiveToSee22 OP t1_itww2sj wrote

Example today. I got to the store and I buy some Claritin along with my normal stuff. Notice that Claritin is FSA/HSA qualified. Would I get a receipt for the ~$20 or so in spend and file reimbursement to save maybe $7 (we're in a state with no income tax so it's only federal)? Probably not...

For the big expenses I get but frankly I think it's a lot of little expense like this adding up and so that's why I'm looking for an easier way to spend this money if I go this direction.

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[deleted] t1_itwxw8e wrote

For an FSA the process is what your employer-provided plan says it is. If your HSA is employer-provided, same deal. I think you've probably spent more time worrying about wasting your time than actual time it would take to submit that $7 reimbursement, but, you have to decide how to value your time.

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