If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you can put away pre-tax money for use on qualifying medical expenses. To take full advantage of this convenient, money-saving benefit, it’s important to keep track of your balance throughout the year.
Depending on your FSA or HSA provider (also called Third Party Administrator or TPA), you may be able to check your account balance online, over the phone or through an app.
How to check your FSA or HSA balance
There are a few ways to check your HSA or FSA balance and get other account information through your TPA, including:
- Over the phone — If you have a flex card, a phone number should be provided on the back for customer service or account information. When you call the number, you typically have to enter your card number, the last four digits of your social security number and/or a PIN that you created when you set up your account. Once your account has been verified, you should be able to access your HSA or FSA card balance.
- Online — Also on the back of your FSA or HSA card is a website where you can find your account information, including your HSA or FSA contribution history. You can also check on the availability of FSA dollars, the status of a claim, your FSA reimbursements and more.
- Mobile app — If your TPA has a mobile app, you can access your account information — usually the same information you’d find on the website — from the convenience of your smartphone. Note that this option may not be available with all FSA and HSA providers.
FSAs are generally considered a “use it or lose it” benefit, so it’s important to keep track of your account balance to avoid forfeiting any unused FSA funds at the end of the year.
While money in an HSA does roll over from year to year, health savings accounts are only available to people with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). If eligible, you can open an HSA through the plan your employer provides or through a plan offered by a bank or other financial institution.
If you have any questions or need help accessing your account information, contact a benefits specialist in your Human Resources department, or, if you opened an HSA outside your employer, contact your plan administrator directly.
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Whether you have an FSA or an HSA, keeping an eye on your account balance will help you keep track of your medical costs and allow you to plan for future expenses (and next year’s contributions).
You can read more articles about FSA and HSA plans here.
