The peak of flu season, which tends to fall sometime in February or March, is upon us. If you and/or your family have held off on getting the shot for any reason, it’s time to consider getting this immunization. Fortunately, since this shot is considered a medically necessary procedure, you can have the costs of getting it covered under one of your consumer spending accounts.
Why Should You Get the Flu Shot?
Based on data collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu virus is just as rampant as it has been in past years. According to estimates taken between October 1, 2019 to January 25, 2020, there have been approximately:
- 19,000,000 – 26,000,000 flu-related illnesses
- 8,600,000 – 12,000,000 flu-related medical visits
- 180,000 – 310,000 flu-related hospitalizations
- 10,000 – 25,000 flu-related deaths
Since flu season starts in October and can go as late as April or early May. There’s still time for you to catch it!
Did You Know that You Can Use Your HSA, FSA, or HRA to Pay for Your Flu Shot?
If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), you can typically cover the costs of getting the flu vaccination since it is considered a medically necessary procedure. Note that if you have a Limited Care Flexible Spending Account or a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, these accounts cannot be used to pay for the shot.
Already Have the Flu?
Fortunately, you can also use your FSA to take control of your virus to make recovering from it a bit easier. Here are some ways to use your funds:
- For deductibles, coinsurance, and copays when visiting your doctor
- Paying for items with active medical ingredients*
- Getting a thermostat to monitor your temperature
- Picking up over-the-counter medications and products that can alleviate cold and flu symptoms like warm steam vaporizers, saline solution, and nasal sprays
*Note that any item that contains active medical ingredients will require a prescription for FSA reimbursement.
Be sure to check if any of the products you intend to purchase are FSA eligible. You can check whether or not they are eligible for purchase by visiting our Eligible Expenses & Eligible Merchants page, heading directly to the FSA store, or checking through the BRiMobile App.
Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm
