Every December, millions of dollars in flexible spending account funds expire unclaimed. Women who had set aside money to invest in their health reach January 1 having never spent it, forfeiting benefits they already earned.

If you have an FSA or HSA, December is the ideal time to use those funds for something that genuinely matters: understanding and addressing your hormone health.

Here is everything you need to know.

FSA vs. HSA: A Quick Primer

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are funded with pre-tax dollars and administered through your employer. The critical distinction: FSA funds do not roll over. Whatever balance remains on December 31 is typically forfeited (some plans offer a small grace period or rollover amount, but the general rule is use it or lose it).

Health savings accounts (HSAs) are different. They are available to people enrolled in high-deductible health plans, funded with pre-tax dollars, and they DO roll over from year to year. Your HSA funds do not expire. However, December is still a strategic time to use HSA funds for health investments you have been putting off, because you can enter the new year with a plan in place and your HSA replenishing through 2027.

Both FSA and HSA funds can be used for the same categories of qualified medical expenses.

What Qualifies at Harmony Integrative Healthcare

Naturopathic physicians are licensed medical providers in the states where naturopathic medicine is regulated. Consultations with Dr. Dani qualify as medical visits for FSA and HSA reimbursement purposes.

Here is what is covered:

• Initial consultation and follow-up appointments: fully eligible

• Functional laboratory testing ordered by your provider: eligible

• Prescription hormone therapy (bioidentical hormones): eligible when prescribed

• Prescribed supplements: eligible in some plans when specifically prescribed as part of your treatment protocol (check your individual plan)

What typically does not qualify: over-the-counter supplements purchased without a prescription, and general wellness or membership programs not tied to a specific medical diagnosis or treatment.

The Harmony Pathways and FSA/HSA Eligibility

Both the Hormone Blueprint Pathway and the Root Cause Pathway at Harmony include components that qualify for FSA and HSA reimbursement.

The consultation portion of each pathway is a medical visit with a licensed naturopathic doctor. This qualifies.

The laboratory testing portion, when ordered through your provider as part of your medical care, qualifies for FSA and HSA reimbursement.

The initial protocol, which includes supplement and lifestyle recommendations, may qualify partially depending on your plan. Prescribed supplements are eligible in many FSA/HSA plans; over-the-counter supplements purchased without a specific prescription are not.

The practical takeaway: a significant portion of the Harmony pathways qualifies for pre-tax spending, making the effective cost meaningfully lower than the set price suggests.

"Your FSA expires December 31. The consultation and lab portions of both Harmony pathways qualify for reimbursement. That is money you already earned being put toward your health."

How to Get Reimbursed: The Simple Process

The reimbursement process is straightforward. At your appointment, request an itemized receipt that includes the provider name and credentials, date of service, and description of services or diagnosis codes. Submit this to your FSA or HSA administrator through your plan's portal or app. Reimbursement typically processes within a few business days.

For lab testing ordered through Harmony and processed through a lab (including Harmony Functional Health Lab Store), the lab generates its own itemized receipt that you can submit in the same way.

If you have questions about your specific plan's coverage, your HR department or FSA/HSA administrator can confirm eligibility before you book.

Using Harmony Functional Health Lab Store Labs with Your FSA/HSA

Our Harmony Functional Health Lab Store at https://us.fullscript.com/s/harmony/shop allows patients to order functional labs directly. When labs are ordered as part of a provider-supervised care plan, they are generally eligible for FSA/HSA reimbursement.

If you want to get your lab work done before your consultation appointment, this is a great option. Coming to your initial visit with lab results in hand makes the appointment significantly more productive and means you leave with an actionable protocol sooner.

Your December 31 Action Plan

Here is a simple sequence to make the most of your remaining benefits before the year ends.

First: check your FSA balance today. Log into your benefits portal and confirm what you have available.

Second: book your free 15-minute discovery call. This call costs you nothing and helps us determine whether the Hormone Blueprint or the Root Cause Pathway is the right starting point for you.

Third: schedule your consultation and labs before December 31. This ensures your services fall within this benefit year.

Fourth: save your itemized receipts and submit for reimbursement through your FSA or HSA portal.

If you are an HSA holder, the urgency around the December 31 deadline is lower since your funds roll over. But year-end is still an excellent time to begin the care you have been considering, with your health benefits strategy planned for 2027.

One More Thing Worth Saying

There is a pattern I see every January. Women come in saying "I've been meaning to do this for months." They spent the fall knowing something was off. They had the benefits to cover it. And they let the year end without acting.

This is not a judgment. Life is busy. Health tends to get postponed for everything else. But the symptoms do not go away on their own, and December 31 is a real deadline for FSA funds.

This year, use what you have. Invest it in understanding what is actually happening with your hormones. Start 2027 with a real plan.

By Dr. Danielle Lewis, NMD

Book your free 15-minute discovery call at Harmony Integrative Healthcare before December 31. The consultation and lab portions of both pathways qualify for FSA and HSA reimbursement. Do not let your benefits expire unused.