https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:03:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1881777 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:39:23 +0000 aegie 1881777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: Sorry it took me so long to respond. Yes you can contribute whenever you want with the HSA. You connect it with your bank account and you can schedule for automatic contributions or a one time lump sum too. the benefit of it coming out of your paycheck is that it's tax free. But definitely you can lump sum it too. My company gives us $1100 contribution into our HSA yearly plus whatever I add to it throughout the year, so it's been pretty nice for me. Plus I can use one account for everything - health, prescriptions, eye, dental, etc. </p> <p>For what it's worth, I also have an FSA too for things like contact solution, etc. You can have it reimbursed through the HSA card but it's easier to fill out for reimbursement through my FSA than HSA for whatever reason. So I do both. And I was expecting a lot medical expenses upfront. But it's not necessary. If you do both, you can't use your FSA for medical or prescription unless you use up your HSA or you can show that you've met your deductible. Otherwise, it can only be used for eye care and dental. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879646 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 08:01:31 +0000 momazon 1879646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also used it for acupuncture during a couple of cycles, before the funds ran out! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879640 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 07:54:21 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tequiero21: I was wondering about that... :silly: </p> <p>@Mrs. Coral: I'll do that! Thanks for the tip.</p> <p>@momazon: Maybe that's what I'll do, then. That way I'll be fully-funded early, if I need to do IVF in the spring. And otherwise, I'll have funds to pay for all of the sundry other stuff that comes with pregnancy or (probably years worth of) other "normal" expenses. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879619 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 07:02:27 +0000 momazon 1879619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only have an option for a high deductible plan at my work, so that's what I'm on. I fully funded my HSA as soon as possible in the beginning of the year (changed my deductions so that nearly all of my paycheck would go into the HSA per pay period until it was fully funded). I funded to the family max (6550) but that quickly disappeared paying for all the IVF meds (with each cycle's meds about 5000 depending on # of stim days), so now I'm just paying out of my regular savings account. It stings to pay with the after-tax money. But at least this cycle I'll hopefully get a rebate check of $1400 for the meds from ivfgreenlight.com (all the Ferring drugs). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879606 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 06:51:34 +0000 Mrs. Coral 1879606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aegie: @FliegepilzHut: The law now allows for up to $500 of FSA funds to be rolled over to the following year. If your employer amended their plan, you don't have to use all yours up! This happened in 2013, I believe, and I rolled my 2013 funds over to 2014. Prior to that I used to spend any leftovers on new glasses or contacts. </p> <p>Here's to hoping your employer amended their plan! Worth a question at least! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879568 Sat, 27 Sep 2014 02:52:39 +0000 tequiero21 1879568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm partial oatmeal? I think I meant partial payment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879528 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 23:00:19 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Argh... :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879517 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:45:32 +0000 MaryM 1879517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: maybe 4 years ago they cut back on OTC meds. I hate it because my stomach and allergy meds both went OTC (and I take the daily) and it was so nice to have that set aside! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879507 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:40:16 +0000 tequiero21 1879507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used it for copays, dentists,partial oatmeal for ivf and meds. We only did $2k. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879505 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:37:08 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: The only difference I see is how much money would be available early in the year...is that right? Bummer about the OTC meds...I could've sworn we stocked our medicine cabinets (with ibuprofen, Nyquil, etc) years ago when we were trying to spend down a FSA! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879504 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:33:46 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: It sounds like there are lots of wonderful FSA options!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879501 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:31:15 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: I think pretty much all available insurance in my state sucks when it comes to IF... :sad:</p> <p>ETA: I recently checked into my husband's insurance through his employer...no IF coverage there either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879499 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 22:30:06 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1879499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lazypanda: That's good to know. Ideally, if I were doing IVF (again), I would want a bunch of tax-free money readily at my disposal...but it sounds like that's not really an option.... :meh: I may see whether I can do both a FSA and a HSA... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879207 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:31:13 +0000 lazypanda 1879207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: DH &amp; I were looking into signing me up for his HSA when we were deciding on whether or not to go the IVF route. I agree with previous posters about knowing how much money is set aside and if it can roll over. DH got rid of his HSA account after we were married because my insurance is better, &amp; after 2.5 years of not being enrolled in his HSA, he still has money left on the account which we've been using to pay for our dental, medical, &amp; optometry co-pays. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879202 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:27:43 +0000 PurplePumps 1879202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has anyone looked into secondary insurance for more IF coverage? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879197 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:14:54 +0000 gingerbebe 1879197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if you get an Rx for it, chiropractors can be covered for prenatal adjustments. Same for physical therapy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1879194 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 17:13:27 +0000 gingerbebe 1879194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePumps: Pretty much EVERYTHING breastfeeding related was FSA eligible. We had $2500 in an FSA ready to go for IVF and RE stuff, but got magically pregnant! I dropped like $800+ on breastfeeding supplies, pump parts, pump bra, etc. I also go pregnancy tests, condoms, prenatal vitamins of all kinds, baby sunscreen - basically anything we could possibly use from the FSA section of Drugstore.com. We got disposable pee pads for the bed (in case my water broke and now to line our crib under the sheets and over the changing pad). I'll also have to order some new glasses and contacts, get some dental work done, and probably still stock up on more breastfeeding stuff before the year is out. Its sort of an annoying problem to have, but it is what it is! You may want to look into more expensive things that you may not typically go for, like orthotic insoles for shoes or Rx sunglasses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878986 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:55:18 +0000 Shutterbug 1878986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: wow, you had co-pays for every monitoring visit? Yeesh, that can add up fast! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878955 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:40:54 +0000 ShootingStar 1878955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: No problem :). BTW though, diapers and OTC meds are not legit expenses, and I'm not sure about the classes. I think whether you have to choose depends on your employer, but if you have an HSA there's not much point to the FSA.</p> <p>@PurplePumps: The HSA will always go with a high deductible plan. But if the plan is decent, the savings you pay in your paycheck contributions should offset it. At my former employer the Blue Cross HMO plan (individual) was $50/paycheck. The HSA plan with the same benefits was $8/paycheck and a $1300 deductible, plus a $250 credit from my employer. Plus with the HMO you have co-pays for every visit, which as I'm sure you know, can add up when you're going for monitoring every other day. For me it made sense, but I can see how that might not be true for everyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878953 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:40:00 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1878953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Thanks! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878948 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:35:29 +0000 MaryM 1878948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As far as "products" go, I find this really helpful <a href="http://www.drugstore.com/fsa-store/qxg59875-0" rel="nofollow">http://www.drugstore.com/fsa-store/qxg59875-0</a>. I used it one year when I had funds to use up (and was how I found out I could use it on pee sticks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878945 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:33:10 +0000 PurplePumps 1878945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was just looking into HSA/FSA also. The problem with HSA for me was that I think the deductible was higher and the benefits weren't as good. (I have to double check, but I only have last years info didn't bother since elections will be in 2 weeks.). I will probably do an FSA though. I still have to pay out of pocket for the balance and copays and coinsurance. Then either I'll have a kid next year and have hospital costs or another round, so either way, I see it being used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878944 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:32:44 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1878944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: That's great info! Thank you! You have to choose between the two (can't do both), right? </p> <p>Can anyone help me brainstorm IF/Pregnancy/maybe even Early Parenthood (!)-applicable FSA expenditures? Prenatal yoga/exercise classes? Diapers? Besides prescriptions, co-pays, uncovered med expenses, and OTC products...what can you legitimately use these funds for? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878937 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:27:40 +0000 ShootingStar 1878937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: So you can adjust the HSA at any time. The bad part though is that the money is *not* there up front (but it is for an FSA). You will only have what you and your employer contributed (mine did $250 at the beginning of the year).</p> <p>However, if you get an FSA all of the money will be there from the first of the year and you can use it all right away. Even if you leave your job you are entitled to that money and don't have to pay it back. But once you've decided on amount it can't be changed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878935 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:22:14 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1878935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aegie: This may sound crazy...but do you have to contribute to a HSA equally throughout the year? Could I try to invest more earlier, to have available sooner?</p> <p>@ShootingStar: So you can adjust amounts/goals mid-year? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878934 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:17:51 +0000 FliegepilzHut 1878934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Pinecone316: My FSA option allows $2500 and my HSA has a limit close to your husband.'s. The difference between the two is that you can only withdraw from your HSA what you've put in year-to-date...and the HSA actually rolls over, if you don't use it all. For better or worse, if I do another fresh cycle, it'll be in the spring...that wouldn't allow very much time to accumulate the funds required to make a dent in my IVF costs.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878933 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:17:13 +0000 aegie 1878933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: an FSA is use it or lose it. So you have to be pretty sure what you're going to be spending. Or you're going to be stuck buying tons of contact lens solution to use up your FSA. The FSA is great because it withdraws from you pay, but you get the entire amount upfront. So if you allocated $2500 for your FSA, you get in all at once January 1 and you're deducted $2500 over the course of a year.</p> <p>An HSA is basically an FSA but you can invest the money in the HSA once it reaches a certain amount and you don't have a time restriction on when you use it all up. With the HSA you're contributing to it as you go, which is determined by how much you want to contribute per year. So I contribute $6,000 into my HSA every year since that's my health plans' out of pocket max. By half of the year, I will have $3000 in my account assuming I haven't used it yet for anything. </p> <p>hope this helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878930 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:15:09 +0000 ShootingStar 1878930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The year I got pregnant (with an RE) I had high deductible insurance with an HSA plan and it was great. If you have the option between and HSA and an FSA, absolutely go for the HSA. They're way more flexible. What I would do if i was you is go for the HSA and then plant to put the amount of money in your HSA that would cover your deductible. That way you know the large majority of you out of pocket expenses will come out of the HSA (and be easier to pay). Then part way through the year you can decide if that amount you elected needs to be raised or lowered based on where you are in your treatment/pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878928 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:12:53 +0000 MaryM 1878928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @Mrs.Pinecone316: on it being a good thing to set aside at least some money, as long as you have a back up plan for it's use. </p> <p>I've been pondering over how much to set aside for next year. We flew through the amount I usually set aside once we started TTC this year and I found out that OPKs, pregnancy tests, and pre-natals were eligible expenses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-flexible-spending-or-health-savings-account-to-pay-for-if-treatment#post-1878925 Fri, 26 Sep 2014 13:08:57 +0000 Shutterbug 1878925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FliegepilzHut: yep :bummed: so I'll have to find a way to spend it. Luckily I was very conservative with the amount I put in, since I didn't really know how much I'd need. </p>