2011 Flex Account

[dreamin_disney]

I have American Fidelity and came across this
http://www.afadvantage.com/flex-list-eligible.asp

Doctors will be so busy writing RX for over the counter meds. I wonder how they feel about it, how many will be annoyed, how many will try avoiding it. Throat lodgens, diaper rash onintments etc need to hav an RX-crazy!

I know many people say their doctors are already rushed . I would love to hear how everyone's experience with this goes.


if anyone gets accupunture does your acupunturist give you a reciept for each visit? I went to one for the 1st time and he said he would give me one at the end of treatment because it looks unprofessional I told him aftert the 1st i would need a recipet. Does this make sense??? It was my 1st time going to an acupunturist.

Anyone know the new amount for mileage???

 

[Sammy]

I was pretty disappointed to see the new changes with the FSA's. I have two kids away at college and they relied on the FSA account when they needed cough meds, Tylenol, etc. They could just walk to the local Rite Aid and pick up whatever they needed when sick. So now, in order to have these OTC meds covered, I' have to pay a $10 office visit copay just so they can pick up a $4.00 box of Tylenol? I don't think so.

 

[bellarella]

I guess I'm not that up in arms about it. For OTC drugs you are just looking at a discount -- the $4.00 box of Tylenol is probably $2.50 if you buy generic, and then you only get your marginal tax rate as a discount -- for most people 15-25%, so a savings of 30-60 cents. The difference in the cost of OTC drugs and having the same drug covered by your RX plan has already put a strain on doctors (and provides a much greater savings than the FSA discount in many cases). I don't think this will have that much of an effect.

 

[minnie1928]

My guess (it's just a guess) is that they will provide the prescriptions without an office visit. Otherwise they would be clogging up their schedule unnecessarily. Or, they might provide you with a scrip for your OTC meds the first time you come to the office for the year.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I still have a significant sum in my 2010 FSA so I went and stocked up on OTC meds at Costco, Target and Walmart the other day. About $300 worth. Bandaids, Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Nyquil, 2 huge first aid kits, travel size meds, you name it. We won't have to buy anything for a few years. Now to pay off the orthodontist and buy another pair of eyeglasses then I can move on to 2011's FSA!

 

[Amy5000]

Unfortunately, I have enough medical expenses to blow through my FSA without counting over the counter drugs. As for the acupuncture, I've had doctors that gave me bills after several visits and ones that do it at each visit. That said, they should be willing to comply with providing a receipt for each visit. Sometimes the billing for the first visit is a little different b/c of the intake but if they refuse to give receipts for subsequent visits I'd be upset. Best, Amy

 

[grumpyskirtgirl]

Seems like a huge waste of everyones time to me. I dont like the new regulations at all.

Can you claim dental expenses? I could look it up but figured I would ask since I am here.

 

[Anjelica]

Just wait till 2014 when the cap on FSA for medical/dental will be $2500. So if you have two kids with braces on at the same time good luck to you.....:mad

 

[Anjelica]

Seems like a huge waste of everyones time to me. I dont like the new regulations at all.

Can you claim dental expenses? I could look it up but figured I would ask since I am here.

Most dental expenses are covered (i.e. checkup copays, root canals, crowns, etc.). Anything deemed cosmetic is typically not covered (i.e. teeth whitening).

 

[grumpyskirtgirl]

Most dental expenses are covered (i.e. checkup copays, root canals, crowns, etc.). Anything deemed cosmetic is typically not covered (i.e. teeth whitening).

Thanks!
Now I have to see if they figure a bridge is cosmetic. lol.

 

[msmayor]

My guess (it's just a guess) is that they will provide the prescriptions without an office visit. Otherwise they would be clogging up their schedule unnecessarily. Or, they might provide you with a scrip for your OTC meds the first time you come to the office for the year.

I doubt it.

Doctors are not in business to just do paperwork, as evidenced by the fact that many offices now charge to sign a sports physical form UNLESS you have it completed during an office visit.

In addition, with the regulations surrounding prescription drugs and the possibility of abuse, I can't imagine any doctor just writing a prescription for a medication without seeing the patient first, even if its only for cough medicine. After all, once they put their name to a piece of paper that is saying "This patient needs this medicine", if something goes wrong or the patient gets sicker, it actually could open up a malpractice problem if it is shown the doctor prescribed a medication that caused harm or didn't help without seeing the patient first to properly assess the situation.

 

[kellia]

I honestly don't see who is going to call their doctor for a RX before buying their kid cold medicine or tylenol for a headache. OTC Zyrtec or something you take all the time, yes, but anything else I just grab at the store when I'm there and am out.

It wasn't until just the past few years that you could use OTC purchases, so I don't see what the big deal is. It was nice, but not a huge savings, IMO.

 

[dreamin_disney]

Just wait till 2014 when the cap on FSA for medical/dental will be $2500. So if you have two kids with braces on at the same time good luck to you.....:mad

WHats the cap now?? Did mileage change or is it still 16.5 cents?