Year-End Checklist

FSA and HSA year-end 2026: the health records to organize before your benefits expire

Most Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds expire on December 31. If you haven't used them or filed claims, they're gone. Your Health Savings Account (HSA) doesn't expire, but contribution limits reset and unclaimed reimbursements pile up. In both cases, you need your health records to know what you've spent, what's outstanding, and what to schedule before the deadline.

In short

FSA deadline: December 31, 2026 — use it or lose it (some plans offer a grace period through March 15 or a $640 rollover)
File outstanding claims with Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and provider receipts from your health records
Family Stork keeps every EOB, receipt, and visit summary on one timeline — pull them all when you need to file

FSA year-end: the records you need

To file FSA claims before the deadline, gather:

EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) — your insurer sends these after every claim. They show what was billed, what insurance paid, and what you owe. Most FSA administrators require an EOB to process a reimbursement.
Provider receipts — copay receipts, pharmacy receipts, specialist visit receipts. If you paid out of pocket, these are your proof.
Prescription records — FSA covers prescriptions. Your pharmacy can provide a year-end statement showing every fill.
Dental and vision records — cleanings, fillings, eye exams, glasses, contacts. These are FSA-eligible and often overlooked.

Source: IRS Publication 969 — Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, accessed November 7, 2026

HSA year-end: what's different

HSA funds don't expire — they roll over indefinitely. But the year-end is still important:

Contribution limits for 2026 — $4,300 individual, $8,550 family (IRS). If you haven't maxed out, you have until your tax filing deadline to contribute for the 2026 tax year.
Reimbursement backlog — HSA lets you reimburse yourself for qualified expenses at any time, even years later, as long as you have receipts. Organizing your 2026 health records now means you can claim them whenever you want.
Investment threshold — once your HSA balance exceeds your deductible, you can invest the surplus. A complete record of 2026 expenses helps you project how much to keep liquid vs. invest.

Source: IRS Publication 969; IRS Revenue Procedure for 2026 inflation adjustments, accessed November 7, 2026

Schedule before December 31

If you have FSA funds remaining, schedule eligible appointments now — dental cleanings, eye exams, flu shots for the kids, well-child visits. These are all FSA-eligible, and most can be booked within the next 8 weeks. Check your records to see what's due and what's overdue.

FAQ

Can I use my FSA or HSA to pay for Family Stork?

Family Stork is a records-organization service, not a medical expense. It is not typically eligible for FSA or HSA reimbursement. Ask your plan administrator for specifics. Family Stork costs $99/year, or about $10/month.

Does my FSA have a grace period?

Some employer FSA plans offer a grace period (up to March 15 of the following year) or a rollover (up to $640 into the next year). Check your plan documents — not every plan includes these provisions.

How do I find old EOBs?

Check your insurer's portal (most keep 12–24 months of EOBs online) or call member services. If your clinic sent visit summaries to your Family Stork address, the corresponding EOBs are easy to match — same date, same provider, same charge amount.

What records should I keep for tax purposes?

The IRS recommends keeping medical expense records for at least 3 years after filing the related tax return. For HSA reimbursements filed in future years, keep the records indefinitely until you claim them.