3 ways employees can use HSAs for back-to-school expenses

Published September 8, 2025 7:00 AM EDT Updated September 8, 2025 11:52 AM EDT 2 Min Read

Mom and daughter picking out item at pharmacy — Adobe Stock

Key insight: Learn how employers can drive FSA/HSA utilization via targeted, seasonal communications.
What’s at stake: Health-E Commerce’s online FSA/HSA search surfaces eligible kid-focused products, but missed engagement opportunity risks unused employee balances and reduced perceived benefits value.
Expert quote: Employers must understand dependent eligibility to tailor outreach, says Susan Elliott-Bocassi.
Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

Working parents have a lot on their plates, especially in the hectic months of the back-to-school season. Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are valuable, tax-free tools that help pay for medical, dental and vision needs, and this time of year is a great chance to remind employees about all the ways these benefits can work for them and their families.

Eligibility lists are available on the FSA Store and HSA Store websites, and parents can search for their needs by product type, brand, and price. Through the expense tracker on the HSA app, parents can identify qualifying items, scan receipts to identify past purchases for reimbursement, keep track of their spending history and account balance and access resources for further education.

With new products being added all the time — especially as tech tools such as fitness trackers and wellness wearables become more popular — parents might be surprised at many of the things covered by their benefit, Elliot-Bocassi says.

Lee Hafner

Editor

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN's popular Benefits in Action and … Read full bio