Health Savings and Flex Acct questions

[kellia]

A couple of months ago, dh was hired by a new company that requires spouses to take medical insurance through their employer. So, I now have a high deductible medical account and a Health Savings Acct for me. Dh and kids are on his medical insurance and have a Flex Savings Acct. Dental for all of us is through dh and all of us have my vision insurance.

My question- I know that because I have a HSA I cannot also have a flex account for medical expenses, but can I submit my dental and vision expenses for reimbursement from the flex acct through dh's work? I thought I saw somewhere that dental and vision were different, but now I'm not sure.

Thanks!

 

[Mommee]

Our dental and vision costs can be paid for with money from our HSA.

 

[kellia]

I know I can pay with my HSA, I just don't have much money in it since I just started it a month or so ago.

 

[wdwfan16]

A couple of months ago, dh was hired by a new company that requires spouses to take medical insurance through their employer. So, I now have a high deductible medical account and a Health Savings Acct for me. Dh and kids are on his medical insurance and have a Flex Savings Acct. Dental for all of us is through dh and all of us have my vision insurance.

My question- I know that because I have a HSA I cannot also have a flex account for medical expenses, but can I submit my dental and vision expenses for reimbursement from the flex acct through dh's work? I thought I saw somewhere that dental and vision were different, but now I'm not sure.

Thanks!

DH has an FSA at work. We have used it for glasses and dental appointments.

 

[mrsklamc]

This is the second time I have heard of this lately and it seems so odd to me. How do they know if the spouses' job offers insurance? The company doing it here says 'we spot check.' BUT if they called our benefits office to check, the person there would say 'none of your business,' I am fairly sure- I can't believe there is a law that says they have to answer that question?

 

[bumbershoot]

I know I can pay with my HSA, I just don't have much money in it since I just started it a month or so ago.

I thought the point of the HSA is that the money is all in there from the start.


Oh but wait...I shouldn't answer. DH's company's high deductible plan is much different from others, because they fund half of the deductible and we *can* have a flex plan with it. So it's this weird in between thing. Nevermind!

 

[MrsToad]

This is the second time I have heard of this lately and it seems so odd to me. How do they know if the spouses' job offers insurance? The company doing it here says 'we spot check.' BUT if they called our benefits office to check, the person there would say 'none of your business,' I am fairly sure- I can't believe there is a law that says they have to answer that question?

At DH's company, the spouse, if he/she is employed, has to submit a letter from their own employer that they don't offer insurance, or that the insurance coverage provided is less than 70% (I think) of the coverage DH's company offers. If the spouse doesn't work and so has no other source of coverage, the employee submits a letter stating so and then the spouse is covered. There is no privacy issue because DH's employer doesn't contact the other employer, we would. If we don't submit a letter saying I don't have coverage, DH would not be allowed to add me to the coverage. We have to supply the info to "opt in."

As DH's company explains it, insurance costs are so high that they want to be sure that if the spouse works, the spouse's employer shares in the insurance costs rather than DH's employer having to cover it all. I can understand it, especially given that employers are not obligated to cover spouses to begin with (as far as I know, anyway).

 

[kellia]

I have no idea how they check, but I wouldn't lie about it. I mean, dh has worked there as a contract employee for a couple of years before getting hired on permanent, they know I work. If I didn't work, I would be covered for the family rate. If I have insuracne through my work, but choose to go under dh's, it costs $800/year plus the family rate. It ended up being cheaper to just having him pay for him and the kids and I put the additional into my HSA. But, it took a few weeks for my work to start taking it out of my check, so I don't have much in mine yet. That's why I was wondering if I could submit my vision and dental expenses, since we are going to the dentist next week and I am almost out of contacts.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[dvcgirl]

This is the second time I have heard of this lately and it seems so odd to me. How do they know if the spouses' job offers insurance? The company doing it here says 'we spot check.' BUT if they called our benefits office to check, the person there would say 'none of your business,' I am fairly sure- I can't believe there is a law that says they have to answer that question?

We are covered under my husband's employer for health insurance. This year during renewal season, I had to sign an affidavit affirming that I had no coverage under my employer. I'm self employed, so have no coverage.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We just switched to an HSA in January. Dental and vision did not change, and those costs are paid through our FSA. Seems like it would be the same for you for dental, at least. I'm not sure about vision since it is through your insurance instead of his.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

To answer your question no you can not submit your dental/vision under your husbands flex spending because you are not on your husband insurance.

 

[HamTown]

We have both a HSA and FSA through my husband's employer so I'm not sure why you can't have both.

The FSA pays for DH's contacts and for our OTC meds.

I'd also check to see who manages the FSA. If it is the employer itself, you may be able to use it for your expenses. If it is part of the health plan itself, then you may be restricted.

 

[wdwfan16]

To answer your question no you can not submit your dental/vision under your husbands flex spending because you are not on your husband insurance.

Our FSA only asks if the person is a spouse or child of the insured. We are on the family plan.