NEW YORK (PRWEB)
May 01, 2023

According to recent reports, over 50 million Americans are currently experiencing mental illness and 23% of adults say they have not received care for these needs due to cost. As Mental Health Month begins, it’s important for consumers to understand that flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) can bridge the gap between health plan benefits and mental health needs. As such, Health-E Commerce, parent brand to online marketplaces FSAstore.com and HSAstore.com, is offering the following tips for understanding FSA and HSA eligibility and supporting mental health for individuals and families.

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  Don’t forgo clinical services. If your health plan does not provide coverage for mental health services or prescriptions used to treat mental health conditions, you can use an FSA or HSA to pay for those expenses. Use an online eligibility list to explore related services. If you have an FSA/HSA debit card, you can use that at point of service to pay for these expenses, or submit the expenses to your FSA/HSA administrator for reimbursement.
• Take steps to manage anxiety. Anxiety can strike anytime, anywhere. Drug-free approaches like the CalmiGo Smart Calming Companion can help ease feelings of distress and anxiousness by helping users calm their breathing and stimulate the senses, making it easier to focus on maintaining a calm, balanced state.
• Improve sleep. Sleep can be elusive for people with mental health challenges. Unfortunately, lack of sleep often exacerbates these conditions. An FSA or HSA can be used to purchase over-the-counter sleep aids, as well as drug-free options like the Bed Buddy at Home Relaxation Mask, which is designed to ease tension caused by stress, headaches, or sinus pain. Imbued with essential oils, this item can be heated or chilled.
• Explore complementary approaches. Acupuncture is a frequently requested expense for FSA and HSA users, and while many health plans do not cover this service, an FSA or HSA will. It’s always good to check with your account administrator before scheduling services to be sure you do not need a Letter of Medical Necessity. In addition to acupuncture services, products like the Kanjo Acupressure Ear Seeds and Memory Foam Acupressure Mat can reduce pain and stress throughout the body and improve overall wellbeing.
• Try pressure therapy. Weighted blankets (a form of pressure therapy) have emerged in recent years as a way to relieve anxiety, stress, and insomnia – all of which can coexist for people with mental health conditions. An FSA or HSA can be used to purchase products like the Sharper Image Calming Heat Massaging Weighted Heating Pad, combining the benefits of pressure therapy with calming heat and vibrations.

“Our mission at Health-E Commerce is to simplify tax-free health accounts and to help millions of individuals and families get more from their health benefits, and that includes awareness for mental health eligibility,” said Preston Farrington, CEO, Health-E Commerce. “Understanding how FSA and HSA funds can be used to pay for mental health services and products is a small but important step to improving mental wellbeing for people across the country.”

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About Health-E Commerce

Health-E Commerce is the parent brand to FSA Store, HSA Store and WellDeservedHealth, a family of online marketplaces that serve the 70+ million consumers enrolled in pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company also created Caring Mill, a popular private-label line of health products that benefits Children’s Health Fund and enables customers to make a donation with each purchase. Since 2010, the Health-E Commerce brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for exclusively pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the list of eligible medical expenses.

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