https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:20:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718560 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:18:35 +0000 kiddosc 2718560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know if it works differently through COBRA, but we spent our entire FSA amount at the beginning of the year when our daughter was born. I was laid off during the summer and the company had to eat the rest of the payments, we weren't responsible for anything beyond what we'd already paid in. I confirmed this with HR when we met to discuss my severance. I would confirm with your HR department. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718537 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:26:12 +0000 LBee 2718537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Interesting! I ended up asking my husband about it and he said they said their plan was specifically written that way that upon termination you lose whatever amount your payments don't exceed unless you COBRA. At the time we didn't question it (since it was in the handbook) and it made sense to us to continue it through the year since we knew we were going to spend it and they paid in half. Google seems to indicate it is fairly rare for the plan to be written that way. Lucky us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718533 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:21:59 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2718533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: Interesting - they definitely cannot go after you if you use the entire amount of the FSA. So if I elected $2,600, and used it all on 1/2, and terminated on 1/3, I don't have to pay any of that back. It's absolutely the risk the company takes by offering an FSA. Subsequently, if you as the employee don't use he money by the end of the plan year and claim it by the deadline, you forfeit that money. That's the risk you take as the employee. </p> <p>But they certainly can't force you to continue to pay premiums under COBRA. If you stop COBRA, your coverage ends then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718520 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:07:34 +0000 LBee 2718520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Oh! I think I maybe misunderstood your post? The OP was asking if she could pay 1 Cobra premium and get the whole amount with Cobra by using it and then cut loose. I thought you were saying that was totally valid. We were told that if you Cobra it and use the full amount you have to still pay your premiums - they aren't "out" the unpaid premiums. We were responsible for paying what we used after he left his job. </p> <p>Potentially his plan was written differently (I saw where some companies can do this). I have no HR experience, just personal experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718518 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:01:40 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2718518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: If they offer you an FSA in your job, they have to offer continuation of coverage afterwards like the second article says. You pay 102% of the premium.What's happening now? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718223 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 09:24:56 +0000 LBee 2718223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: My husband quit his job and that is not what they told us or our experience. We were responsible for paying the Cobra "premiums" (102%) with after-tax dollars to continue the FSA. We were 9 months in and had spent none so it obviously made sense. </p> <p>I did some research and everything I read confirms this. </p> <p><a href="https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/howdoescobraapplytohealthflexiblespendingarrangements.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/tools-and-samples/hr-qa/pages/howdoescobraapplytohealthflexiblespendingarrangements.aspx</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T020-C001-S001-what-happens-to-your-fsa-if-you-re-laid-off.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.kiplinger.com/article/spending/T020-C001-S001-what-happens-to-your-fsa-if-you-re-laid-off.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718194 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 08:59:49 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2718194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For your Health Care FSA, you would be able to sign up for 1 month premium and spend your entire annual election amount for your FSA, then cancel COBRA. It's the risk the company takes when setting up an FSA. </p> <p>For example, if your annual election was $2,600, and you only contributed $600 towards it, terminated, then signed up for COBRA, you'd contribute one month at a post-tax premium. You could use the full $2,600, then drop COBRA.</p> <p>Fair warning that you might not be able to drop only pieces of your COBRA. So if you'd like to still be covered under medical as well as FSA, you may not be able to pick and choose the following month (meaning keeping medical and dropping FSA from COBRA). </p> <p>PM me if you have any questions. I work for the benefits department in my company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-cobra#post-2718099 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 21:40:08 +0000 ski4578 2718099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am considering signing up for COBRA for my FSA and was hoping someone might be able to give me some insight. If I sign up for COBRA for one month and pay 1 premium will I be able to spend my entire annual election right away and then cancel it and the company would eat the cost of the unpaid premiums? Or will I only be able to spend the amount I had actually contributed thus far and pay back anything over once I cancel? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270244 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:49:56 +0000 mrs. 64 1270244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggle with this every year. The past few I've put in $1000 for just myself and I've always spent it, but I do go to the doctor more than most. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270188 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:32:16 +0000 SAHM0811 1270188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We contribute the max (for us it's $2500) and never have excess at the end of the year. We use it for DH's contacts, all co-pays and Rx's, and DD's speech therapy mostly. If we could put more in, we would! Whenever DH gets LASIK, we'll use our FSA too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270104 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:04:54 +0000 LindsayInNY 1270104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: There's an option for rollover but it's up to the employer. DH's employer didn't select that for us so it's use it or lose it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270097 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:03:27 +0000 Cchoi4 1270097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I'm only counting the $20 copays :) I should EDIT this post to say that. thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270092 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:02:03 +0000 sunny 1270092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cchoi4: are well baby visits not covered? I've only ever been on plans where they are. I'm not terribly well versed on insurance plans though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270090 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 17:01:10 +0000 sunny 1270090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjyw: I thought that IRS rules state that it is use it or lose it, except that $500 could be rolled over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270072 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 16:57:28 +0000 mrsjyw 1270072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think DH is putting away 3,000 away for us. Because it rolls over if unused and it covers our out of pocket costs/deductible.</p> <p>DH and I both are eyeglass/contacts wearers and see multiple drs for annual checkups, so we'd rather have the extra room than not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-put-in-your-fsa-account#post-1270052 Mon, 09 Dec 2013 16:52:23 +0000 Cchoi4 1270052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How much do you put in your yearly FSA account? Now that labor/delivery is over, I'm wondering how much to put for our family of 4. Barring any major dental work or health issues...I'm thinking of putting in $450.</p> <p>This would cover DS2's well baby visit copays for the next year, DS1's 3 yr appt copay, $ for contacts, pharmacy (we aren't on any medication), DS1's dental visit, and some extra for possible ER visits and misc.</p> <p>Does that seem high or low? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-questions#post-414186 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:09:24 +0000 T-Mom 414186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: thanks! You're right. I have been looking into this more to see what qualifies, and i think i have found enough stuff to get reimbursed this year (like saline solution!). my lesson learned is to not wait until years end to do this, and also to know more about what qualifies in advance in order to request prescriptions , like you suggest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-questions#post-414129 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:23:54 +0000 Mrs. Pen 414129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>if you can get your dr to write you prescriptions for over the counter drugs, you can get reimbursed! I had my midwife write a prescriptions for all of my prenatals and we got reimbursed which was great because my prenatals were $30/mo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-questions#post-413099 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 01:44:45 +0000 T-Mom 413099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am scrambling to collect all of our receipts to get reimbursed through FSA and am running into some questions. I had thought that over the counter baby meds were reimburseable, but they are not as of 2012.. So now I am looking into lactation supplies, such as breast milk storage bags. Does anyone know if I had to purchase a certain brand for it to be reimbursed, or can I submit receipts for any brand? I am trying to figure out how to make sure and get all our money back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92554 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:52:34 +0000 Crisark 92554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I didn't think you would just because of normal pregnancy but I wanted you to make sure your DR was specific in their LOMN. I don't want you to have to go back and forth with them :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92246 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:23:25 +0000 regberadaisy 92246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks! I do plan to contact my insurance company and/or the FSA department. Unfortunately as much as I like my office managers (she's pretty much HR) a lot of times she does not have the answer to these questions?<br /> @Crisark:<br /> hehe. I wouldn't ask for FSA to cover my massage just because I'm pregnant. But I thought if it would alleviate A LOT of pain that's not associated with "normal" pregnancy maybe it would be covered? I'll call my FSA soon... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92158 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:25:55 +0000 Crisark 92158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FSA will cover any type of massage with a letter of medical necessity from your physician listing a specific diagnosis code.<br /> Can't be to relieve stress or something like that. You would have to be suffering from some sort of disease aside from pregnancy.<br /> I work with FSA for my job :)<br /> And in regards to contacting your insurance, a FSA account is to cover services that the insurance doesn't cover so contacting them about their coverage will not assist in whether your FSA will cover.<br /> And let me be clear a RX is not the same as a LOMN so make sure you actually get a letter on your physician's letterhead with their signature. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92153 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:21:59 +0000 heffalump 92153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would contact your HR department or insurance. I didn't even check to see if it covered mine. Good thing to figure out for next time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92147 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:58:59 +0000 yoursilverlining 92147@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t have an answer to your specific question as I don't use a FSA, but I have 2 thoughts:</p> <p>Have you called your insurance to double check whether any massage is covered by your plan? (My insurance covers some massage by practitioners with certain qualifications, so I just have to pay my co-pay to get a massage in those cases).</p> <p>Additionally, my OB had me go to a physical therapist for back/hip pain. He spent about half an hour each visit massaging my lower back and hips which really helped (and felt awesome!). With that, I just had to pay my “specialist” insurance co-pay as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/fsa-for-prenatal-massage#post-92138 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:36:51 +0000 regberadaisy 92138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone know if with a note from my OB I can use my FSA to cover a prenatal massage?</p> <p>I've been having chronic lower back pain and really bad hip pain (to the point where I can barely walk). Currently trying to find a local chiropractor. But a prenatal massage would also be amazing. If I can use my FSA that would be wonderful.</p> <p>Thanks! </p>