How to Check Your FSA Balance Before the End of 2026

Most FSA users know the FSA "use it or lose it" rule (opens in a new tab). Fewer know exactly how much is left in their account, when their real deadline falls, or what they can still buy with the money. That knowledge gap is why billions of pre-tax dollars go unspent every year.

With 2026 coming to a close, this is the time to make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. This guide covers how to check your FSA balance in a few minutes, how to confirm your plan's 2026 deadlines (opens in a new tab), what happens to money you don't use, and the fastest ways to put your remaining balance toward eligible health expenses. For a broader look at stretching your benefits, see Maximize Your HSA and FSA: A Guide to Eligible Health Expenses (opens in a new tab).

Ever think to yourself, “How can I check my FSA balance before the end of 2026?” The fastest way is to log in to your FSA administrator's online portal or mobile app, where your available balance usually appears on the main dashboard. Your administrator is the company that processes your claims (often the name printed on your FSA debit card), not your employer.

Here are the quickest ways to check your FSA balance before year-end:

• Administrator portal: Log in on desktop to see your available balance, claims history, and plan details in one place.
• Mobile app: Many administrators offer an app that shows your balance and lets you upload receipts from your phone.
• Claim and card emails: Reimbursement confirmations and card transaction notices often list your remaining balance.
• Phone: Call the customer service number on the back of your FSA card for an automated or live balance check.

Large third party administrators (TPAs) like HealthEquity, WEX, Fidelity, Navia Benefit Solutions, and Optum Financial all show balances in both their web portals and apps. Look for the "available balance" figure rather than your "annual election," which is the total you elected for the year. If you're not sure who administers your plan, check the back of your FSA card, your open enrollment confirmation, or your employer's benefits site.

The phone number on your FSA card connects you to your benefits provider, which can confirm your balance and recent claims. Your HR or benefits team can tell you who your administrator is and share plan documents, but they may not have real-time access to your balance. Your paystub shows how much you've contributed so far, not how much you have left to spend.

If you already have an account, you'll just need your username and password. If you're logging in for the first time, have these ready:

• Your employer's name
• Your employee ID or the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN)
• Your date of birth and ZIP code
• Your FSA benefits card number, if your administrator asks for it

Before you call, check a few common causes:

• Pending claims or card transactions: Recent purchases may still be processing and not yet reflected in your balance.
• Card swipes awaiting documentation: Your administrator may request receipts to verify card purchases. Unverified amounts can be held, and your card may be suspended until you submit them.
• Uniform coverage: Your full annual election is available from the first day of the plan year. Your account balance equals your election minus reimbursed claims, not what you've contributed through payroll so far.
• Carryover funds: Money carried over from 2025 may show as a separate line item.

If the numbers still don't match, download your claims history, compare it against your receipts, and contact your administrator.

Deadline rules depend on your employer's specific FSA plan design, so the date that matters for you may not be December 31. There are three separate FSA deadlines to track (opens in a new tab):

• Spending deadline: The last day to incur eligible expenses. For calendar-year plans, that's December 31, 2026. Plans with a non-calendar plan year end on a different date.
• Grace period deadline: If your plan offers one, you get up to two and a half extra months to spend, through March 15, 2027 for calendar-year plans.
• Claim submission deadline: Also called the run-out period, this is the last day to submit receipts for expenses you already incurred. It's often 90 days after the plan year ends, which for many falls in March, but it varies by plan.

Find your plan year dates in your Summary Plan Description (SPD) or the plan details section of your administrator portal. If neither is clear, ask your HR team to confirm the plan year start and end dates.

Your plan documents will say. Employers can offer either a carryover or a grace period, but not both, and some plans offer neither. For 2026 plan years, the IRS caps carryover at $680, though your employer can set a lower limit.

Once your final spending deadline passes and any carryover is applied, remaining FSA money is forfeited back. That means it can't be refunded to you, converted to cash, or moved into an HSA. Employers typically keep forfeited funds and use them to offset the plan's administrative costs.

That doesn’t mean your funds go poof at 12:00am on January 1st. There are a few specific situations where you may be able to spend your FSA funds after the deadline.

Eligible plans let you roll unused funds, up to $680 from 2026, into the next plan year. Anything above that limit is forfeited. For example, if you have $900 left on December 31 and your plan allows the full carryover, $680 moves to 2027 and $220 is lost. Some plans also require you to enroll in next year's FSA to receive the carryover, so confirm that rule before open enrollment closes.

A grace period gives you extra time to spend, not extra money to keep. You can use 2026 funds on eligible expenses incurred during the grace period, but any money left after it ends is forfeited.

The run-out period only lets you file claims for eligible expenses you incurred earlier in the plan year or grace period. It doesn't allow new purchases. Submit itemized receipts promptly, showing the date, description, and amount, because missing the claim submission deadline means forfeiting money you technically already spent.

Wondering which expenses you can still use your remaining FSA balance on? The list is a lot longer than you might think. For starters, you can use your remaining balance on any qualified medical expense incurred before your spending deadline, including copays, prescriptions, dental and vision care, over-the-counter products, and certain wellness items. 90+ FSA-Eligible Items and Expenses: What Qualifies (opens in a new tab) covers the full list.

If you have time, book care you've been putting off, such as a dental cleaning, an eye exam, or new glasses. The service needs to happen before your deadline, not just be scheduled. For FSA-eligible product purchases, the Truemed HSA/FSA-Eligible Consumer Marketplace (opens in a new tab) lets you browse eligible options across sleep, fitness, recovery, and supplements from one place.

These are quick, low-effort ways to use what's left while stocking your medicine cabinet:

• Over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy medicine, cold and flu remedies, and antacids
• First-aid kits (opens in a new tab), bandages, and antibiotic ointment
• Thermometers and blood pressure monitors
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher)
• Menstrual care products
• Contact lens solution and reading glasses
• Pregnancy and ovulation tests

Since 2020, over-the-counter medicines and menstrual products no longer require a prescription to qualify for FSA reimbursement.

If your cabinet is already stocked, consider eligible health categories that support your long-term health:

• Sleep: Products that support better rest (opens in a new tab), from sleep tech to mattresses, may qualify.
• Recovery: Items like massage tools and compression devices may qualify when they treat a specific condition.
• Fitness: Home equipment and some gym and fitness studio memberships (opens in a new tab) can be eligible.
• Supplements: Supplements (opens in a new tab) generally qualify only when they treat or prevent a diagnosed condition.

Many of these health categories and interventions may be HSA/FSA eligible for qualified customers when supported by a piece of additional documentation called a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) (opens in a new tab). Eligibility depends on both the item, your individual health needs, and your plan's requirements. When you check out with Truemed at a partner brand, qualified customers complete a health intake survey that a licensed provider reviews to determine eligibility.

If qualified, your LMN unlocks the ability to spend pre-tax HSA/FSA funds on thousands of proactive health interventions, saving you an average of 30% in the process.*

*Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures (opens in a new tab).