Help me use my HRA quickly, please

May 21, 2019 1:50 PM

I just found out I have $2750 in a Health Reimbursement Account that will disappear at the end of the month. (My job ended 5/3, my benefits are through May 30.) I'm (thankfully) healthy, but want to take advantage of these funds, which go towards anything not covered by my $6500 deductible. I do have bad knees that I've been ignoring, and maybe something cosmetic? Anything I could pre-pay? Thanks for any suggestions!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet to Health & Fitness (23 answers total)

Do you wear glasses or contacts? That's my go-to way to spend this kind of money.
posted by something something at 1:58 PM on May 21, 2019 [9 favorites]

Qualified medical expenses from your HRA include the following.
Amounts paid for health insurance premiums.
Amounts paid for long-term care coverage.
Amounts that aren’t covered under another health plan.

First, get reimbursed for all premiums you have paid this year if you haven't yet. Then go through the list of allowable medical expense deductions, since that is what is generally reimbursable. This includes cab fare, bus fare, medical mileage (18 cents per mile), parking or tolls for medical appointments. Other things: Eye exams, glasses, dental work, and pregnancy tests.
posted by soelo at 2:07 PM on May 21, 2019 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: My HSA covered contacts ... this can only be used on actual health. Me: female, early 50s
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:07 PM on May 21, 2019

I didn't realize it could go away.

I'm pretty sure you can buy medical stuff at a pharmacy - like bandages, knee support thang, hot water bottles, nicotine gum, etc... Could be cool to see if some local aid group could pass forward needed materials.
Glasses/sunglasses/contacts
Musicians earplugs - they mold to your ear canal and have awesome protection/sound. Good for going to concerts
Dental night guard
?!?! Have fun!
posted by PistachioRoux at 2:08 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

There are some online stores (eg this one) that cater to people who need to use up money in flex spending accounts; I'm not sure if it works the same way with a HRA so you should check the eligibility details. When I had an FSA to spend out, I got prescription sunglasses (which were a great choice; wish I'd bought some sooner) and then used up the remainder of the funds on the card on stuff like high-quality sunscreen, a knee brace, etc.
posted by karayel at 2:09 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

Non prescription medication is not generally reimbursable. It used to be under HSA and HRA rules, but they tightened the rules.
posted by soelo at 2:11 PM on May 21, 2019

Ooops, sorry, didn't see your update before posting. It sounds like prescription (sun)glasses might still be an option? Otherwise, since you mentioned cosmetic stuff, maybe contact a dermatologist and find out if there are any qualifying procedures you can pay for up front with this? Or book some physical therapy appointments for the knee?
posted by karayel at 2:12 PM on May 21, 2019

Do you use prescription Estrace vaginal cream, tablets, and/or ring? It's outrageously expensive. Get a prescription from your gyn.
posted by Elsie at 2:19 PM on May 21, 2019

My HSA covered contacts ... this can only be used on actual health.

I'm not sure that's accurate in the way you mean - I have both an HRA and an HSA, and they seem to be very similar in terms of what can and can't be covered. You can definitely use the HRA for contacts, for example, and for other items in addition to services.

On another point, prepayment for services given after the coverage ends is almost certainly not an option.
posted by showbiz_liz at 2:19 PM on May 21, 2019

I may be conflating HRA and HSA. Whatever I had came with an actual card (like a credit card) so I could go to a CVS and just see if it worked for items.
posted by PistachioRoux at 2:30 PM on May 21, 2019

Response by poster: I am being told by the company administering the plan that what I have ONLY covers medical deductible expenses. Not premiums, not vision and dental expenses, not Walgreen's. Thanks!
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 2:33 PM on May 21, 2019

Lasik?
posted by DarlingBri at 2:43 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

Some HSA / HRAs cover pets as well... you may research your plan!
posted by hillabeans at 2:43 PM on May 21, 2019

The knees, get the knees looked at.
posted by cotton dress sock at 2:46 PM on May 21, 2019 [2 favorites]

Look at your HRA plan document! Companies are apparently allowed to exclude what would otherwise be reimbursable expenses (things like vision and dental expenses) from the IRS list, but they should have told you that.
posted by praemunire at 3:03 PM on May 21, 2019

Custom orthotics? Sleep study (though you'd maybe have to dig around to find someplace with a last-minute appointment)? I'm not sure about whether these would be covered, just that they're expensive things that are broadly useful.
posted by needs more cowbell at 3:09 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

Imaging for your knees sounds legitimate, if you can get it scheduled quickly enough. That'll eat into that amount pretty quickly.

Any vaccines you need? Non-essential but potentially informative bloodwork like a thyroid panel and fasting glucose? Sleep study? (Jinx.)
posted by teremala at 3:16 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

If you're early 50's (and haven't already) this is the absolute best time for a colonoscopy and a bone density scan. You could also possibly get a mammogram now, which would let you push your next one off for longer.
posted by Mchelly at 3:17 PM on May 21, 2019 [6 favorites]

Also since you asked about something cosmetic, if there's any chance that laser hair removal via a dermatologist or plastic surgeon might be considered a medical expense, that is (IMO) worth every penny.
posted by Mchelly at 3:21 PM on May 21, 2019

If, despite diligent research and attempts to use this money for needed procedures, I wonder if it is possible to donate these funds toward another employee’s qualified expenses. Probably not something HR hears everyday so it might take more research.

I’d hate to see you lose this money because you haven’t been “ sick enough”!
posted by citygirl at 5:52 PM on May 21, 2019

If HRAs cover the same things as HSAs and FSAs, then you could browse the Amazon HSA store.
posted by whisk(e)y neat at 6:24 PM on May 21, 2019 [1 favorite]

An HRA is pretty different from an HSA or an FSA - it's basically coming from a pool of money that your employer makes available to all employees on the plan. If it makes you feel any better, not using it is effectively pretty similar to donating it to a coworker who needs it - your company uses an HRA as part of its overall insurance plan most likely because it lets them keep down premium costs. The HRA is a way they "self-insure." They don't expect everyone to use all their HRA funds every year, and if everyone *did* get in the habit of using all their HRA funds every year they would offer a smaller amount of HRA funds.

By all means, if there's something you want or need to get done, do it! But maybe don't think of it as money you're losing, but rather as an insurance product that you were fortunate enough not to need.
posted by mskyle at 4:43 AM on May 22, 2019 [3 favorites]

First things first: your knees!
After that: have you gotten a colonoscopy this year? How about a mammogram?

Allergy testing?
posted by Neekee at 3:30 PM on May 23, 2019