What supplies can be covered by flex spending account?

[tamagotchi]

We're estimating how much to fund a flex spending account for the year, and we're planning a homebirth. I assume that birth kit supplies are covered as medical supplies? What about a birth pool or pool rental?

[gcgirl]

I wish I had more info for you, but it's hard to know. I've tried calling my FSA administrator and asking if X-Y-Z is covered, and invariably they tell me "You can go ahead and submit your receipt and we'll let you know." WTF? You can't just tell me NOW, before I go buy it?

Most medical supplies you can buy OTC are covered, but a birthing tub...I don't know. I'd be surprised. It seems to me the govt would classify that as unnecessary/optional, as in "not a necessary medical expense." I guess they'd rather we spent all our/their money in hospitals than take care of ourselves more cheaply.

[momto l&a]

IMO you also need to find out what your mw supplies.

I have to buy the birth kit as it isnt included but the pool is included in her fee. Strange IMO. Why not just cover the $60 birth kit

[ahdoula]

Our flex account covers EVERYTHING, but it all depends who's at the other end for you saying "yay or nay" I am sure some companies/orgs or more particular. I even got my electice breastpump covered. I usually don't ask first, I just submitt the recipt and see what happens. I have had my midwife write a RX for somethings before in case I needed to back up my cliam and that has worked.

[Marvelleaux]

We have submitted (and have been reimbursed) to our flex account the cost of the midwife, co-pays from the lab work and ultrasound, and all vitamins/suppliments. I have not submitted the birth kit price yet and this is where I think we might run into problems because they like things to be itemized. I'm going to try it anyway .

[gcgirl]

It's great that they covered your vitamins - ours doesn't cover any vitamins at all unless they're prescribed.

Hopefully they won't give you a problem over the birth kit - you can get reimbursed for a first aid kit without itemizing all the contents. Fingers crossed!

[tamagotchi]

Thanks for your responses! If what they reimburse is so variable, I guess it's going to be harder to estimate than I thought.

Marvelleaux, I'm impressed that you got them to cover vitamins, did you have to submit a prescription for them? I was thinking of asking my OB if she could give me a prescription for Floradix, that stuff is expensive!

[jraohc]

I have found it quite difficult to get straight answers from either flex spending or our insurance company. It is very frustrating. One thing flex spending could tell me is that our homebirth midwife would be covered. The insurance company said midwives are covered but homebirths are not covered. I'm not quite sure what that means.