https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:09:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1167720 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 07:45:31 +0000 Alivoo01 1167720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I maxed ours out, but that's because hubby has asthma and seasonal allergies so prescriptions come out of it. HPT and OPKs are also qualified expenses so a good chunk went there since we were TTC (not a great wat to "spend" money, but we're all POAS addicts here. Ha! And this was before I found out about the Wondfo). We also have dental and vision insurance so when we purchased new glasses and contacts, the expense came out of my FSA account also. This is in addition to doctor visits, blood work, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166498 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:51:04 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1166498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a similar situation last month and ended up not putting any in the FSA. It just didn't seem like it would save that much money and was a big hassle to deal with (bc we aren't sure we'll get pregnant this year and give birth, then it's just be dr co-pays, and maybe some fertility appts/costs but I have no way of estimating that potential cost). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166474 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:42:37 +0000 LindsayInNY 1166474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's tough... I think I'd lean toward being conservative and putting less in. If we had put more money in last year when we started TTC, we'd be stuck right now since we're still TTC. We're definitely going to have to make a decision in a couple months for next year now. We will likely put in only as much money as we could spend if we don't end up pregnant and giving birth within 2014. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166458 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:38:11 +0000 ShootingStar 1166458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Okay, if you don't have to submit until the end of May then it sounds like do have until March. I just wanted to make sure because SO many people make that mistake! My DH had even read the rules wrong and I had to explain to him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166453 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:36:35 +0000 Cole 1166453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Good to know about the services rendered, I guess that scratches that idea! I wonder if it does run on off months and I just hadn't noticed? But every year I call just to make sure and they accept all receipts dated through the end of March. I wonder if it is because some billing offices are a pain so they just go ahead and accept everything through that time? I know it isn't just for services that calendar year that are billed late though because I usually wind up going out and grabbing a bunch of otc medicine to use up the $20 or $30 that I don't have receipts for at the last minute. We don't have to submit until the end of May. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166438 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:30:19 +0000 ShootingStar 1166438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: Pre-payments won't be eligible for FSA. It has to be for a service rendered. So if you haven't given birth yet, you can't get reimbursed for those expenses. Once you've given birth, then you file. And you're sure your plan year goes until March? I just ask because that's really unusual in a plan. Usually they run a calendar year and then you have 3 extra months to file claims. Some plans run on off months (like September-August) but running until March is very unusual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166432 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:26:51 +0000 Cole 1166432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: Thanks so much for the feedback, I really appreciate it. We do thankfully have until March of 2015 to use the money so it does give us extra time. I think we will probably lean towards putting aside only what we know we will use plus whatever a hospital birth will cost. A friend pointed out that you usually have the option of prepaying those costs so that gives us almost a year and a half to get pregnant and not lose that amount of money but I will double check on that with our FSA administrator too. </p> <p>I hate all of the uncertainty that health insurance creates around costs. I am hoping that they can get me some concrete information about qualifying for fertility treatments as well as birth costs so we can plan accordingly. We have great coverage but I know nothing is ever as straightforward as you want. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166316 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:46:21 +0000 ShootingStar 1166316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I would not do it. I would only put into the account what would be realistically spent. A long time ago I worked for a company that administered FSA accounts and you wouldn't believe how much money people lost. </p> <p>Please make sure to first understand your account. If your plan year runs from January to December, that means that you likely have until March 2015 to put in the paperwork, but not to incur the expense. </p> <p>I would call your insurance company to find out what would be covered, and call your RE to find out what their costs are. Every RE seems to be different. And every health insurance is different. Mine covered costs (mandated in my state) but only after a certain time - if you were &lt;35 you had to be trying for a year (WITH a doctor) or have a medical issue. I was diagnosed with PCOS so I was able to get covered before I turned 35, but I still had to see the RE for a while before that happened. And at my RE costs are separated out for monitoring if you do timed intercourse, but once you jump to IUI, then they charge you a flat fee. </p> <p>So basically, I'd figure out a realistic amount and put that in the account, and not assume you'll give birth before December 2014. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flex-accounts-birth-costs-amp-ttc#post-1166281 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 13:36:27 +0000 Cole 1166281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Coming up soon we will need to decide how much money to put in our flex account for next year and I am sort of stuck. We are ttc and I think this month is our last shot before having to turn in the paperwork with how much we are setting aside for next year. </p> <p>I would love to have a home birth which I believe runs around $3500 here and my health insurance won't touch it with a ten foot pole. I am still waiting to hear back from our insurance company for exact numbers but I am fairly certain a hospital birth will only cost a couple hundred dollars in total for the entire pregnancy. </p> <p>If we aren't pregnant by March of next year my doctor will start running tests on hormone levels at that time. Before my iud I shared my charts with another doctor in the practice and she told me if they looked the same when we were ready for a baby she would put me on clomid. My one complete chart looks the same at this point. My insurance at least covers 1 round of ivf so I would think clomid would be covered but I am waiting to hear back about that too. </p> <p>Are there other costs that I am not thinking of? In a pinch we could use the money up on things like chiropractor, massage and acupuncture appointments but I would prefer not to spend that much money on those things ordinarily.</p> <p>So long story short, would you put a bunch of money in a flex account on a wing and a prayer? There is a cap of $2500 next year and we would lose it after March of 2015 if we didn't use it all. It would save us a significant amount on a home birth since it would be tax free and we aren't likely to spend enough on health costs to be able to take them as a deduction on our taxes. </p>