Quick Answer: FSAFEDS is the flexible spending account program for federal government employees. As one of Crates' supported admins, you can submit reimbursements from Letters and reimbursements for FSAFEDS (FSA only): Add a receipt, then Continue reimbursement. Or submit claims through the FSAFEDS portal with your itemized receipt and LMN. FSAFEDS requires detailed documentation and does not accept credit card statements or canceled checks.
About FSAFEDS
FSAFEDS (Federal Flexible Spending Account Program) is managed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for federal employees. It covers Health Care FSA (HCFSA), Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA), and Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA).
If you're a federal employee with a Health Care FSA, you can use it for Crates-eligible wellness purchases.
Option 1: Reimburse Through Crates (Recommended)
FSAFEDS is one of Crates' 8 supported admins, so you can submit reimbursements from Letters and reimbursements:
Log in and open Letters and reimbursements
Switch to Receipts and reimbursements (on a phone, Receipts)
Add a receipt for the product. Files can be JPEG, PNG, GIF, or PDF, up to 4 MB each
When you are ready, the receipt shows Continue reimbursement
The first request asks only for missing administrator details, then saves them on Profile under Reimbursement details. One of those details is Account establishment date: the date your HSA or FSA account was established. If you are not sure of it, your administrator can tell you. Later requests reuse them. You still draw a signature each time.
Every request asks Amount you are claiming and Date of purchase. A range form asks Service starts and Service ends.
Crates fills and sends the claim for FSAFEDS (FSA only). The administrator decides the payout and timing. Administrators do not share payout updates with Crates.
Our in-house claims team reviews and finalizes the submission to FSAFEDS.
Option 2: Submit Directly Through FSAFEDS
Log into FSAFEDS at fsafeds.gov
Navigate to "Submit a Claim"
Select "Health Care FSA" (or LEX HCFSA if applicable)
Enter the claim details:
Date of service/purchase
Retailer name
Expense type
Amount
Upload your itemized receipt
Upload your Letter of Medical Necessity from Crates
Submit the claim
Processing time: 5-10 business days.
⚠️ Important: FSAFEDS Documentation Requirements
FSAFEDS is stricter than most admins about documentation. Here's what you need to know:
What They ACCEPT
✅ Itemized receipt from the retailer showing: merchant name, date, service/product description, amount
✅ Letter of Medical Necessity from a licensed healthcare provider
✅ Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurance for medical/dental claims
What They DO NOT ACCEPT
❌ Credit card receipts or statements
❌ Canceled checks
❌ Balance-forward statements
❌ Receipts that don't clearly describe the product/service
Activity Trackers and Wellness Products
FSAFEDS lists "Activity Tracker" as "Eligible with documentation" — meaning an LMN plus an itemized receipt is required. This is actually good news: it means FSAFEDS explicitly recognizes that activity trackers and similar products CAN be eligible with proper documentation.
FSAFEDS also explicitly includes "Health club dues" as potentially eligible with a Letter of Medical Necessity. Again, this confirms that gym memberships can qualify with the right documentation.
FSAFEDS Tips
Be meticulous with itemized receipts — FSAFEDS is known for returning claims due to insufficient documentation
Submit well before deadlines — Leave time for any back-and-forth about documentation
Use the savings calculators — FSAFEDS has calculators at fsafeds.gov to help you estimate your savings
Remember carryover rules — Federal employees may be able to carry over a portion of unused funds (check current limits)
Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA)
If you have both an HSA (through your HDHP) and a LEX HCFSA, note that the LEX account only covers dental and vision expenses. Wellness products would need to go through your HSA, not the LEX HCFSA.
Common Questions
Can I submit FSAFEDS reimbursements through Crates? Yes! FSAFEDS is one of Crates' supported admins. You can Add a receipt on Letters and reimbursements, then choose Continue reimbursement. Crates fills and sends the claim for FSAFEDS (FSA only). Or submit directly through the FSAFEDS portal with your LMN and itemized receipt.
How do I know if an item is eligible through FSAFEDS? FSAFEDS has a searchable eligible expense list at fsafeds.gov/support/eligibleexpenses. Items requiring an LMN will be marked "Eligible with appropriate documentation."
What's the difference between HCFSA and LEX HCFSA? HCFSA covers all qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. LEX HCFSA only covers dental and vision — and is designed for people who also have an HSA.
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