Anybody Use Flex Spending Accounts?

I have always taken advantage of the tax break they offered and getting reimbursed for medical expenses not covered (yes, I know it is my own money but it is tax-free).

I have to set up how much I want in my account for next year and it is a use-it-or-lose-it deal so you have to be careful not to put in too much money.

I was searching about vitamins and discovered if you have a letter from your doctor stating the vitamins are "medically necessary" then you can claim the cost of your vitamins also.  I just put all mine in a spreadsheet and came up with $700/year for vitamins.  Works out to about $58/month so that sounds about right.

Anyway, just thought I would pass this along in case anybody else uses Flex Spending Accounts and didn't know they could get their vitamins covered under them.

Yep-that's what I was told as well. Then again we both work for the state-right? They also said they'd cover massages if I had a note from the doctor. They even reimbursed me for a visit to a lady in Weatherford that I saw who did massage and natural healing.
I need to get a note from the doc again this year for massage and vitamins so I can use my card for that as well.

 Angela, Oldest DD, took out 3500. for this year because of Joshua s invisaline braces, but because he started them last yr, the dentist deducted the cost this yr, but angela has to pay it back, 2100.00 before she can cont to use her card, and now that she has lost her job and is only getting her severance, she does know what is going to happen, co-pays, school physicals, vitamins etc.... just do not add up to 2100. then she has the other 1500 to use. Any suggestions.
Hugs
Sherry

wow- well I don't know what to say. I have had a claim or two be questioned or denied but they've been small enough to have another expense cover it. Since its her money, I would think the only thing they could do is not let her use the remaining amount and then at the end of the year all of it will dissapear since its a use it or lose it benefit, but at least then she wouldn't have to repay the $2100. It would suck to lose the $1500 though. I guess I'd be calling the flexible spending people for her company and ask them what will happen and what their advice would be.

Sherry, does she wear glasses or contacts and need new ones?  I woudl also look at all the OTC items that are covered.  She could always stock up.  Any diagnostics she needs - mammogram, etc?

I have had a flex spending acct. for several years and really like it.  I just have $100 a month taken out and never have quite enough, but don't want to lose any money on it.  It works great for glasses or contacts too.  Thanks for the info.

Karla

Karla-I also don't have them take out too much because I'm afraid I'll lose it by not having enough claims. I generally run out by March and ours is from Sept-Aug.

I have always been very conservative also because I didn't want to lose any money - you can blame our gov't for setting it up that way instead of letting us roll it over....grrrrr.......

One year we discovered my husband needed some expensive dental work and I had already turned in my amount but thankfully I am friends with the HR manager and she went in and changed it for me after the deadline since it was still the prior year.

Our deductibles are going way up next year but I still have no idea if we will use it or not.  I need new glasses and have been putting off replacing my badly scratched ones because we already ran out of flex spending money this year.  I was happy to discover the vitamins because then I can put in for the cost of my glasses and vitamins and if we need it for other medical expenses then we will have it for that instead.  At least I know the glasses and vitamins are a given.

We were just talking about whether vitamins are covered
or not as I have to enroll this month. What about my
Unjury? I am going to 'chat' with the flex spending
people. I doubt it but I am going to ask. I have had three
more surgeries since my RNY(June2008) and used
my Flex amount was gone by March. They did come back
and audit one of the $800 bills from Methodist.
I had to get an itemized statement. The lady at Methodist
said they were used to it -no problem. I understand
when we have to submit itemized statements on vitamins
but to Methodist-Please.
Anita

I had the same problem with my Methodist bill.  The flex spending card wouldn't work for paying Methodist, because for some reason, it wasn't registering as medical.  The flex spending people told me that I would have to pay the bill and then submit it to them for reimbersment.  I had the same problem at the dentist and the orthodontist.  For my vitamins, I have a form from the doctor on file with the flex spending people, and I have to pay for the vitamins and then submit them, but I haven't had a problem for that.