I've had FSAs for many years. Some of the "interpretation"
is up to the adminstrator. I've never had a receipt denied,
but never really pushed it. Most bills from a medical
provider such as doctor, dentist, and optometrist pass.
Certain drugstore purchases like sonicare and bandages pass.
Non-prescribed vitamins probably dont make it.

FSA surpluses are also good for "preventative maintenance"
medicine- physicals, dental, blood work, vision,
dermatology, etc. I reserve a few of these for Nov/Dec in
case everyone is usually healthy in my family.

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- quote -

I would consider the correction of a problem caused by
another medical procedure NOT to be cosmetic in origin, but
to originate from the original defect (as a "complication").

The IRS might want to challenge this based on the time
difference between the original problem and the correction,
but there's no time limit in the law.

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- quote -

So let's get back to my original question.

As a child, I was quite ill and was given tetracycline.
That's clearly covered as a medical expense. The
tetracycline caused my teeth to be brownish. Would
tooth-whitening be permissible in an FSA because it's part
of the treatment for the treatment for a disease?

Seth

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sethb[at]panix.com says...
- quote -

Tetracycline is the one. It is (was?) frequently prescribed
to people who were allergic to penicillin.

Gary

--
You can probably X figure out X which letters to X delete to
derive my email address X.

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- quote -

Tetracycline.

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Brian <bpbiv[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

I can't remember which antibiotic it was (one of the
*mycins, I think), but if given to a child whose teeth are
forming, it damages the enamel and causes the teeth to be
much darker than they otherwise would be. For someone who
was a victim of this (before the problem was known), could
tooth whitening be considered a medical expense, since it is
part of treating the results of treating a disease?

Seth

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As an aside, there is no a roll-over version for high-cost
health plans called Health Savings Accounts and employers
are allowed to offer these. But mine has been dragging their
feet and press reports few have been offered.

A roll-over bill for the traditional FSA has been submitted
in Congress several times, but hasnt had much interest.

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Arthur L. Rubin" wrote

- quote -

"HW "Skip" Weldon" wrote

- quote -

A health flexible spending account (FSA) may reimburse only
"medical expenses" as defined in Code Sec. 213. According to
Code Sec. 213(d)(9)(A) amounts paid for "cosmetic surgery"
or other similar procedures can't be taken into account as a
medical expense deduction, unless the surgery or procedure
is necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from (or
directly related to) a

(1) congenital abnormality,
(2) personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or
(3) disfiguring disease.

"Cosmetic surgery" is any procedure which is directed at
improving the patient's appearance and doesn't meaningfully
promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat
illness or disease.

As far as speakers, actors, etc., the profession doen not
make those expenses medical deductions. In some situations
you might argue that it's an ordinary & necessary business
expense, although I don't really know of cases where that
has been upheld. Regardless, business expenses are not
reimburseable from section 125 plans.

Brian Bivona, CPA

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"HW "Skip" Weldon" <skip5700removethis[at]hotmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

In your examples, it might be an allowable business expense,
but that is completely different than being an allowable
medical expense.

--
David M. Woods, EA, ChFC, CLU
Woods Financial Services
Norwood, MA 02062
www.woods-financial.com

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Are compete physical exams covered?

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Arthur L. Rubin wrote:

- quote -

Don't make assumptions.... I personally am being subjected
to the torture of my dentist this year, with a pocketbook
impact in excess of $3500.

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Yaofeng wrote:

- quote -

Glasses. Eye glasses are usually not covered by a medical plan but FSA
money can be used. And they are usually not cheap. It's about now that
my wife and I check our math, see what's left and get new glasses.
(I'm thinking they do need to be perscription glasses, not over the counter)

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Arthur L. Rubin" <ronnirubin[at]sprintmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

Do you have a cite for this? Are there any exceptions -
such as for professional speakers, actors, etc.?

-HW "Skip" Weldon
Columbia, SC

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Yaofeng wrote:

- quote -

I have doubts about botox....and I'm not sure a month and a
half is sufficient to schedule SERIOUS dental work.
(Remember -- the work has to be DONE this year for it to
count.) Also, it appears that tooth whitening is NOT
covered, either as a medical deduction, nor under the
reimbursement plan.

If the plan allows for OTC drugs (some do), you might stock
up on cold-and-flu medication.

(Effective around October 2003, plans are allowed to
reimburse you for OTC medication for treatment of a disease
or health condition -- not for general health purposes.)

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Just got the notice from our accounting dept. I haven't
spend a dime on my 2004 FSA. We put in only $1,040 for the
year. Don't think we have spent more than $200 the whole
year. What can we do in the next month and a half, among
the five of us, to use it up?

We should and are grateful all of us are in such good
health. Still I'd like to spend OUR money before being
taken away by Uncle Sam.

================================================== =========
Moderator:
Dental work, laser eye surgery, hearing aid, and botox
(if the plan allows it.)
================================================== =========

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