The Best HSA Purchases to Make With Your Health Savings Account
Unlike an FSA, your HSA rolls over year to year — so there's less pressure to "spend it or lose it." But that doesn't mean you shouldn't put it to work. Here are the best HSA purchases for 2026, plus strategic tips for growing your account long-term.
Top Picks
What to Look For
- HSA money grows tax-free if you invest it — many HSAs offer the same brokerage options as an IRA.
- Save receipts forever — you can reimburse yourself years later for qualified expenses.
- Big-ticket items: eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses, medical devices, and dental work all qualify.
- Consider long-term holdings vs. immediate spending — some experts treat HSA as a supplemental retirement account.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can afford to pay medical expenses out of pocket, invest your HSA and let it grow tax-free. Withdraw for medical expenses decades later.
No. HSA funds roll over year to year and stay with you even if you change jobs — a key difference from FSAs.
Prescription drugs, doctor visits, dental and vision care, medical devices, eligible over-the-counter medications, and many wellness items with a Letter of Medical Necessity.
Generally no, unless prescribed by a doctor with a Letter of Medical Necessity for a specific medical condition.