kristenrice
NOT just an ambulance driver
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 7,382
Backstory...bear with me...it is pertinent...
DD13 started her orthodontia treatment last year. DH and I both carry dental insurance on her with mine being primary and DH's being secondary. We had a payment plan set up which resulted in us still owing $1200 ($100/month) for 2017. Knowing this, I set up a FSA from my employer during open enrollment last year which would receive the $1200. We haven't used an FSA in the past because our annual physicals and well-child exams, along with all of our prophylactic dental expenses are covered.
DD13 was born with 2 congenitally absent teeth meaning that she will need dental implants by the time she is about 18. The orthodontic work began last year, but since we knew it was going to be pricey, I opted to change our plan for 2017. We went from a "silver" to a "gold" plan which essentially doubled our orthodontic coverage and will pay 50% for her implants when she eventually needs them.
So...when we went in for her appointment at the beginning of May, I mentioned that I'd received a bill from them showing that I owed around $800. I wanted to make sure that we were still on their payment plan of $100/month. When the receptionist pulled up our account, she said that our TOTAL outstanding balance was $186.02! It should have been $800 since I'd only paid $400 of the $1200 we still owed. She said that they re-submitted the claim to my insurance when I changed the coverage level and that was the amount remaining after they paid.
I was stunned...but I happily handed her my FSA debit card and paid off our entire balance. Now, I have a bit of a predicament...we still have $673.98 left in our FSA. I am now on a prescription that costs $10/month. Other than that, we have no OOP expenses, barring any unscheduled office visit ($20) or ER visit ($100). So what can I get with my $600 that's left in my FSA??? Obviously, I won't be using it until December, just in case we have an emergency of some sort, but I would like to plan ahead.
DD13 started her orthodontia treatment last year. DH and I both carry dental insurance on her with mine being primary and DH's being secondary. We had a payment plan set up which resulted in us still owing $1200 ($100/month) for 2017. Knowing this, I set up a FSA from my employer during open enrollment last year which would receive the $1200. We haven't used an FSA in the past because our annual physicals and well-child exams, along with all of our prophylactic dental expenses are covered.
DD13 was born with 2 congenitally absent teeth meaning that she will need dental implants by the time she is about 18. The orthodontic work began last year, but since we knew it was going to be pricey, I opted to change our plan for 2017. We went from a "silver" to a "gold" plan which essentially doubled our orthodontic coverage and will pay 50% for her implants when she eventually needs them.
So...when we went in for her appointment at the beginning of May, I mentioned that I'd received a bill from them showing that I owed around $800. I wanted to make sure that we were still on their payment plan of $100/month. When the receptionist pulled up our account, she said that our TOTAL outstanding balance was $186.02! It should have been $800 since I'd only paid $400 of the $1200 we still owed. She said that they re-submitted the claim to my insurance when I changed the coverage level and that was the amount remaining after they paid.
I was stunned...but I happily handed her my FSA debit card and paid off our entire balance. Now, I have a bit of a predicament...we still have $673.98 left in our FSA. I am now on a prescription that costs $10/month. Other than that, we have no OOP expenses, barring any unscheduled office visit ($20) or ER visit ($100). So what can I get with my $600 that's left in my FSA??? Obviously, I won't be using it until December, just in case we have an emergency of some sort, but I would like to plan ahead.
), and I verified that it is a "use it or lose it" account, no rollover allowed.
. I see that acne treatments are included so maybe I can get the kids' pediatrician to write a prescription for some OTC products like ProActiv or that Neutrogena light therapy mask. DD11 is getting really bad acne so she could use it.
Hopefully you never need that money.
