Question:
Has anyone been able to use their flexible spending accounts for plastic surgery?

I am just starting a new job, and have the option to participate in a flexible health-care spending account. I wanted to know if our post-op reconstructive plastic surgeries are considered eligible services to use the health-care spending acct. funds on?    — sweetmana (posted on July 1, 2005)

July 1, 2005
best to check with your adminstrator, the decision is not retractable, so money in needs to be spent, or it is lost. but in general they do have a wide range to favor the depositor. biggest caution of course is that you are assuming that they wont be covered by insurance.and u are self paying. excellent plan once you have that covered. i covered braces for the kids painlessly that way.
   — walter A.

July 1, 2005
I have FHC spending acct and love it. Saves on tax dollars, too! However, it doesn't even cover Retin A for my sons acne as it is consider cosmetic. ours is with ceridian. Each one my be different. BUT as far as tax stuff goes, it apparently does not cover cosmetic treatments of any kind. Call the Human Resources dept. to make sure. GOOD LUCK!
   — TeriC

July 1, 2005
You would have to read the documentation to find out if it is covered. I belong to mine and it is great with co-pays etc.
   — shoutjoy

July 1, 2005
Using your this option may require documentation from your doctor, which is how I became aware of it. Its best for patients who were denied by insurance or have an exclusion, yet have legitimate medical issues and need due to excess skin problems. Check the archives...this topic was discussed before with a lot of good responses.
   — DrL

July 1, 2005
You have to read your policy. I know for a fact mine excludes payment for any plastic surgery. I thought that was kinda weird since I would be putting my own money into the account and should be able to spend it on anything insurance would not cover, but I guess since it is pre-tax dollars, they can put conditions on it.
   — Ali M

July 7, 2005
Yes it is possible but you need to get a decision prior to committing the funds. I was looking at a surgeon who was not in network and wanted to put my out-of-network co-pay into the fund, which would have been $2000. At first they said no, but I argued. My insurance had pre-approved the surgery and since my insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery they had determined it was medically necessary. I had to send copies of all the letter I had from the ortho and neuro surgeon as well as a copy of the exlusion section from my benefits booklet that says they do not pay for cosmetic surgery and a copy of the pre-approval letter. They then had legal review it and agreed I would be allowed to get the money out of my account. fortunately I never had to go that route because for 2004 the surgeon ended up being in-network. But it was worth the arguement, as it could have saved me quite a bit.
   — zoedogcbr