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Are DEM charges eligible for flex spending reimbursement?  

post #1 of 15
11/14/07 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
I have a message in to my HR coordinator but who knows how long that will take. Our insurance enrollment papers are due next week and I plan on using a midwife for everything with this pregnancy. My insurance will not cover midwife charges unless it's a CNM and a hospital birth, both of which I hope to avoid. Basically I'm wondering if anyone knows (since it's an IRS regulation, not an insurance company/employer regulation) if I can submit the charges incurred by an unlicensed DEM for reimbursement. I also tried checking on the IRS website for eligible expenses but can't find and/or understand anything…
post #2 of 15
11/14/07 at 1:02pm
You know, I submitted mine 3 years ago and had no problem at all. I am not an expert when it comes to this stuff, so I can't tell you for sure..... just that I did it and no one came after me or flagged me or anything. My health insurance paid for the birth except for the deductable and that is what we submitted to the flexible spending account.
post #3 of 15
11/14/07 at 1:08pm
Yup...did it last year, was reimbursed 100%
post #4 of 15
11/14/07 at 1:46pm
Thread Starter 
Sweeeeeeet! Oh, it'll be so much easier to have it just taken out of my paycheck and be able to pay her in one lump sum instead of having to worry about payment plans.
post #5 of 15
11/14/07 at 4:36pm
My clients routinely get paid from flex spending.. but.. I charge by having them complete a payment plan and then giving them a global billing at the end of care that they then submit for flex spending and they get reimbursed. You'll just have to check with your midwife to see how she does it.
post #6 of 15
11/14/07 at 6:07pm
Yes, but keep in mind like JunipersMom pointed out that flexspending accounts will not cover services that have yet to be rendered - which means they won't cover deposits, etc. Your midwife can bill for each visit, and then bill for the birth when it comes, etc., but you cannot be reimbursed for the entire birth fee before the birth occurs or care is not complete.
post #7 of 15
11/14/07 at 6:20pm
Het, y'know what I recently learned? Your unmarried partner CAN file for care for you through the flex acct IF you are a tax dependant. That would have been nice to know a year ago!
post #8 of 15
11/14/07 at 9:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamamidwife View Post
Yes, but keep in mind like JunipersMom pointed out that flexspending accounts will not cover services that have yet to be rendered - which means they won't cover deposits, etc. Your midwife can bill for each visit, and then bill for the birth when it comes, etc., but you cannot be reimbursed for the entire birth fee before the birth occurs or care is not complete.
Ahhh, that's right, forgot about that. I knew that, I swear! But even then I can submit the charges as she bills me... but then I might as well pay it and not have it taken out of my check... hmmm, got some thinking to do...
post #9 of 15
11/14/07 at 10:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamamidwife View Post
Yes, but keep in mind like JunipersMom pointed out that flexspending accounts will not cover services that have yet to be rendered - which means they won't cover deposits, etc. Your midwife can bill for each visit, and then bill for the birth when it comes, etc., but you cannot be reimbursed for the entire birth fee before the birth occurs or care is not complete.
I'm not sure that this is entirely true -- my flex account would allow me to get reimbursed for services that were prepaid, as long as those services were going to occur in that calendar year. For example, I used to prepay for chiro visits 10 at a time and they had no problem with that.

Two of my clients have also been told that if they pay me on Jan 1 for the entire birth fee, they can be reimbursed right away (I think both are due in May). I have run into trouble in the past with taking payment in two different years and trying to seek reimbursement for both years for the same birth.
post #10 of 15
11/14/07 at 11:34pm
We even used our flex account to get reimbursed for birth pool rental. No issues. Flex accounts at least through our employer seem really, well, flexible.
post #11 of 15
11/15/07 at 12:04am
I've had a few clients that were successful in using flex spending $ to pay for doula care as well.
post #12 of 15
11/15/07 at 1:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CallMeMommy View Post
Ahhh, that's right, forgot about that. I knew that, I swear! But even then I can submit the charges as she bills me... but then I might as well pay it and not have it taken out of my check... hmmm, got some thinking to do...

But, if it comes out of your check then that is money that you are not paying taxes on, so in a way it makes your birth fee much lower.... you know? So, I would go ahead and flex it. I also find it is just easier to have a chunk taken out of each paycheck before I even see it than to hand it over as cash in my hands.... I flex for everything! I was just setting up our flex accounts last night and I was trying to guess exactly how many trips to the ER my middle child was going to have this year (he is fearless!)
post #13 of 15
11/15/07 at 2:08am
I submitted and was reimbursed for my home birth with a CPM. I called the flex folks ahead of time and asked lots of questions, and even made them send me info in writing stating that it would be covered. If in doubt, just call and ask. Good luck, I hope it's covered for you!
post #14 of 15
11/15/07 at 1:34pm
:
post #15 of 15
11/15/07 at 1:59pm
thanks for the info, Stacia! guess it doesn't hurt to clarify with the specific account representatives.
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