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Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:43 am
by GannonFan
Wasn't aware of this - the new health law, as of Jan 2, 2011, requires OTC medicines (cold, allergy, etc) to have a prescription from a doctor in order to be eligible to be bought with money set aside in a flexible spending account (i.e. pre-tax dollars). Not a huge deal, but part of the revenue needed to justify the healthcare reform law.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card- ... e-1271.php
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:55 am
by Chizzang
GannonFan wrote:Wasn't aware of this - the new health law, as of Jan 2, 2011, requires OTC medicines (cold, allergy, etc) to have a prescription from a doctor in order to be eligible to be bought with money set aside in a flexible spending account (i.e. pre-tax dollars). Not a huge deal, but part of the revenue needed to justify the healthcare reform law.
http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card- ... e-1271.php
The beginning of the death camps... Palin was right..!!!!
RUN EVERBODY..!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:46 am
by HI54UNI
A tax increase on the middle class. Didn't Barry promise he wouldn't do that?

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:04 am
by Appaholic
Our HR informed uus of this development a couple of months ago. So, you either have to pay for OTC medication with after-tax dollars (windfall for govt) or get a RX after paying doctor a co-pay (windfall for insurance co). Exactly how does this federally-mandated HC benefit the average middle-income (responsible) American again?
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:06 am
by ASUG8
Appaholic wrote:Our HR informed uus of this development a couple of months ago. So, you either have to pay for OTC medication with after-tax dollars (windfall for govt) or get a RX after paying doctor a co-pay (windfall for insurance co). Exactly how does this federally-mandated HC benefit the average middle-income (responsible) American again?
Don't forget the added benefit of a cost increase vs. current......

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 9:49 am
by Col Hogan
It was an unfair benefit that only responsible working people could use...they couldn't figure out how to give it to the core supporters so it had to be eliminated....

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:00 am
by bandl
Col Hogan wrote:It was an unfair benefit that only responsible working people could use...they couldn't figure out how to give it to the core supporters so it had to be eliminated....

That's why I prefer an HSA over a FSA, since the money carries over.
Not like I use it anyways though...

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:50 am
by andy7171
bandl wrote:Col Hogan wrote:It was an unfair benefit that only responsible working people could use...they couldn't figure out how to give it to the core supporters so it had to be eliminated....

That's why I prefer an HSA over a FSA, since the money carries over.
Not like I use it anyways though...

Buy diapers with it.

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:54 am
by bandl
andy7171 wrote:bandl wrote:
That's why I prefer an HSA over a FSA, since the money carries over.
Not like I use it anyways though...

Buy diapers with it.

Wait, what?!?! Is that an allowable item under HSA? How about FSA? I haven't used an HSA in years because i wasted so much money the last time I enrolled. I honestly have no idea.
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:41 am
by andy7171
bandl wrote:andy7171 wrote:
Buy diapers with it.

Wait, what?!?! Is that an allowable item under HSA? How about FSA? I haven't used an HSA in years because i wasted so much money the last time I enrolled. I honestly have no idea.
You have to go to an old fashioned type pharmacy with one register. Or get the cashier at the pharmacy register to ring them up in CVS or Giant. My FSA gave me a credit card to use, ring everything up together. I stopped participating 3-4 years ago. Things may have changed. But yeah it worked for me back then.
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:15 pm
by ASUG8
andy7171 wrote:bandl wrote:
Wait, what?!?! Is that an allowable item under HSA? How about FSA? I haven't used an HSA in years because i wasted so much money the last time I enrolled. I honestly have no idea.
You have to go to an old fashioned type pharmacy with one register. Or get the cashier at the pharmacy register to ring them up in CVS or Giant. My FSA gave me a credit card to use, ring everything up together. I stopped participating 3-4 years ago. Things may have changed. But yeah it worked for me back then.
I would have guessed a guy with as many young 'uns would be a prime candidate for FSA.
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:17 pm
by bandl
andy7171 wrote:bandl wrote:
Wait, what?!?! Is that an allowable item under HSA? How about FSA? I haven't used an HSA in years because i wasted so much money the last time I enrolled. I honestly have no idea.
You have to go to an old fashioned type pharmacy with one register. Or get the cashier at the pharmacy register to ring them up in CVS or Giant. My FSA gave me a credit card to use, ring everything up together. I stopped participating 3-4 years ago. Things may have changed. But yeah it worked for me back then.
Little bandl is under bandlette's coverage and she has the FSA. I'll run this by her.

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:22 pm
by andy7171
ASUG8 wrote:andy7171 wrote:
You have to go to an old fashioned type pharmacy with one register. Or get the cashier at the pharmacy register to ring them up in CVS or Giant. My FSA gave me a credit card to use, ring everything up together. I stopped participating 3-4 years ago. Things may have changed. But yeah it worked for me back then.
I would have guessed a guy with as many young 'uns would be a prime candidate for FSA.
Yeah I know. I no longer work at our main office and didn't renew one year, and haven't signed back up.
bandle, as long as it's not food or produce, the pharmacy cashier couldn't give to shits about what card you are using to pay for stuff.
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:25 pm
by bandl
andy7171 wrote:ASUG8 wrote:
I would have guessed a guy with as many young 'uns would be a prime candidate for FSA.
Yeah I know. I no longer work at our main office and didn't renew one year, and haven't signed back up.
bandle, as long as it's not food or produce, the pharmacy cashier couldn't give to shits about what card you are using to pay for stuff.
We get our diapers at Costco, and they don't allow you to use credit cards (only debit/bank cards). I doubt we could use an FSA card there...
The savings on formula and diapers alone have already paid for our membership there, and then some.
Plus, who doesn't need 3 gallons or salsa or maple syrup at a time??

Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:27 pm
by andy7171
The extra large cans of Beefaroni are great. Just don't feed your horse!
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 1:29 pm
by bandl
andy7171 wrote:The extra large cans of Beefaroni are great. Just don't feed your horse!
I love the double packs of Nutella they sell. I can down a single jar of Nutella in about 2 minutes. Best shit on earth.
Re: Change to Flexible Spending Accounts
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:34 pm
by griz37
My wife actually works in Flex spending for an insurance provider & even she agrees that HSAs are the way to go. Listening to her it sounds all the changes are going to be very confusing for a LOT of people, good to see some of you guys are already on top of things.