The holidays have a way of reminding us what matters. It’s also the one time of year when an easy financial win is right in front of you. It’s the time when you can put your remaining FSA or HSA dollars to work before the funds roll over or you outright lose them.
If you’ve been putting those advance healthcare directive questions in a never ending holding pattern, why not use your health savings account or flexible spending account to create a MIDEO video advance directive and organize your wishes in a format that clinicians can open in seconds during an emergency.
Don’t waste (or lose) those funds with a shopping spree of FSA eligible items that you already have a bunch of in your closet at home. There’s a better way to use expiring funds that can turn this December into a meaningful gift for your family–the peace of mind that if something happens to you that your wishes are bedside-ready with instructions doctors can follow when you can’t speak for yourself.
This guide explains the year-end rules and shows why a video advance directive beats a stack of paperwork or PDFs, so you can enter the New Year with your digital healthcare directive done and your family totally protected.
Why December Is the Best Time to Use FSA/HSA
Every December, millions of dollars in flexible spending accounts go unused because people aren’t sure what counts as “flexible spending account allowable purchases,” or they wait for a sale and miss their plan deadline.
Meanwhile, HSA balances often sit idle when they could be allocated to an essential, one-and-done task you’ll never regret completing, like a clear plan for medical decisions in an emergency.
Here’s the difference between FSAs and HSAs:
FSA
FSA funds are “use it or lose it” for most plans. Some employers offer a grace period or limited carryover, but those are employer choices, not guarantees. If your plan has a 12/31 deadline, December is the last call to use those funds.
Some offer a grace period or a carryover of a set amount to the next plan year. Your HR/benefits portal or plan admin can tell you which rule applies. Either way, December is decision time.
HSA
HSA funds roll over year to year, but December is when many of us set intentions and budgets. Allocating a small portion of your health savings account now to complete advance care planning with MIDEO means you start the new year already protected. December is a strategic time to allocate a portion for high-value items like advance care planning, even if your plan doesn’t expire.
Sure, you can spend your balance on FSA eligible items or generic HSA eligible items that you probably already have a bunch of. But think about value per dollar…do you really need more bandages or contact solutions?
Instead, a video advance directive with MIDEO offers something a shelf of supplies never can: it speaks for you, unmistakably, when seconds matter during a medical emergency.
The Holiday Reality No One Likes to Talk About
If you’ve ever been in an ER with a loved one and had to guess what they’d want, you know the dread. Paper forms get lost, scanned the wrong way, or misread.
Arguments start, not out of malice, but because no one is sure. A video advance directive changes that because clinicians see and hear you say what you want. Your signed form carries the legal weight. With MIDEO, your plan is accessible from a QR code that can be scanned from your phone’s Apple or Google Wallet, and there’s no portal login or paper hunt slowing things down.
For this holiday season, you can make your plan before the big holiday dinner, and share a link or show your Wallet pass to your family while saying something as simple as, “I took care of this so you won’t have to guess.”
Setting Up a HSA/FSA Spending Plan
When spending your HSA or FSA, you should do some planning so the funds will actually go to something beneficial. Here’s the steps to using your HSA/FSA for your MIDEO advance directive with the MIDEO Health App or via our self-guided process on the website:
Audit Your Benefits
Open your FSA portal to confirm your flexible spending account allowable purchases, deadline, and remaining balance. Open your HSA to check your balance and contribution plan. If you’re on Medicare or another plan that may cover ACP conversations, note your member services line for quick verification.
Think About What You Want During a Medical Emergency
You want your video advance directive to highlight how you want to be treated during a medical emergency. While it can feel uncomfortable to think about it, having a clear vision of your care during an emergency is essential to matching your video advance directive to your wishes.
Watch Then Record
Watch a couple of education clips that explain the typical choices. Then, use a teleprompter-style recorder so your message is calm and complete. You don’t need to be perfect, just honest and specific.
Review & Sign
Generate the accompanying document, make sure everything is correct, and e-sign. Most people can pay with HSA or FSA funds.
Add to Apple or Google Wallet & Share
Add your MIDEO to Apple or Google Wallet. Share the secure link or show the QR to a trusted person so they know where to find it.
That’s it! You’re done in less than an hour. You’ve converted year-end dollars into something that removes doubt for the people you love.
December FAQs About FSA/HSA and “Use It or Lose It”
Can I really use my FSA/HSA for advance care planning?
Many people can. ACP is a recognized medical service in many contexts, and out-of-pocket portions are often HSA/FSA eligible as qualified medical expenses. Exact eligibility varies by plan and state, so verify with your benefits portal or member services.
I keep seeing lists of “FSA eligible items 2025.” Should I buy those?
Buy only what you’ll truly use. If your plan expires soon, high-value items (like finishing your advance directive) deliver more lasting benefit than filling drawers with extras you may not need.
What if my employer offers an FSA grace period or carryover?
Great! But don’t let the extra time become a reason to stall. December is when your family is together and you have natural momentum to finish your plan and share it.
Does my hospital need a special portal to open my MIDEO video advance directive?
The hospital doesn’t need any special portal or login to access your MIDEO video advance directive. That’s what makes our system truly stand out. Clinicians can scan and view in seconds without extra logins.
A Smarter Way to Spend Down FSA/HSA and a Better Way to Start the New Year
When you think about it, using your remaining FSA or a small slice of your HSA on a digital end of life planner is the most “holiday” thing you can do. It’s not a gadget. It’s not a gift card. It’s investing in your self, health, and the life you hold dear along with the people and family that depend on you.
The holidays are for making memories, not tough decisions in a hallway outside the ER. Turn your remaining HSA/FSA dollars into a clear plan that speaks for you during a medical emergency.
Ready to use your FSA/HSA on something that matters?
