tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post5937070204666301454..comments2024-03-28T22:49:03.563-05:00Comments on Lag Liv: Healthyness and Other BlessingsLLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04431706155081017734noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-26123180958536661472011-12-11T14:40:47.909-06:002011-12-11T14:40:47.909-06:00Sorry, I thought teeth whitening was covered. May...Sorry, I thought teeth whitening was covered. Maybe it was covered back when my husband was using an FSA in 2007, but not now since the rules have changed. Stupid rules.Elizabethhttp://www.avianexplorer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-86270657559507550062011-12-09T00:17:59.565-06:002011-12-09T00:17:59.565-06:00this is the trouble with FSAs and the reason the a...this is the trouble with FSAs and the reason the associate committee at my firm has been lobbying for HSAs for a few years. (we're finally getting a HSA option next year.) good luck finding a way to use the money!Paragon2Pieceshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186204100704440304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-75956928919702255642011-12-08T01:14:20.924-06:002011-12-08T01:14:20.924-06:00Just wanted to end my lurking to quickly comment t...Just wanted to end my lurking to quickly comment that A) I'm glad everyone is OK and turned OK! I can imagine that the Urgent Care/ER would have been unnerving, given your experiences (my family has had run ins with overly aggressive people at CPS. The whole thing still looms as a shadow) and B) to thank you for writing this blog. Truly. As a female currently in college who plans on pursuing an ambitious, academic career -- and who is painfully undecided between medicine and law, as I currently can't imagine my life without either -- it brings me a great deal of hope and relief to see someone with a career such as yours having and managing a healthy and well-adjusted family (including having a husband who supports all of it). I hope I don't sound odd or creepy saying it; but you and your blog have truly been inspirational to me. <br /><br />StarStarlightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-41207596659876047812011-12-07T23:18:08.666-06:002011-12-07T23:18:08.666-06:00I am laughing that 18 months is your favorite age....I am laughing that 18 months is your favorite age. My oldest is about to turn 22, and I have to say that 18 months was my absolute least favorite age with all of them! <br /><br />Go to the dentist. I can blow over $1000 easy just taking everyone in for a cleaning and whatever followup he recommends. We have great medical insurance, but terrible dental.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954004825041083313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-79476942574327745352011-12-07T17:57:04.615-06:002011-12-07T17:57:04.615-06:00So glad everything turned out ok with Lan-man! And...So glad everything turned out ok with Lan-man! And your brief!Butterflyfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10107438909973957940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-53670783305503498502011-12-07T14:20:06.098-06:002011-12-07T14:20:06.098-06:00Prescription sunglasses? You can get some nice de...Prescription sunglasses? You can get some nice designer ones, and it will be 100% covered with the FSA funds. You can also get the nonRX lenses so you can pop them in if need be. Tax free Coach sunglasses? yes, please. First aid kits are also tax deductible. <br /><br />Also? I'm guessing you might change your mind about 3 with Claire... Landon seemed pretty darn compliant. Claire sounds like she has a personality much more like my daughter, who has been a huge challenge at 3. It's like 80% awesome, and 20% OMG, how much can I get for you on Craigs List?Wendynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-1176684088181030832011-12-07T14:16:54.070-06:002011-12-07T14:16:54.070-06:00OTC meds can be covered with a doc's rx. So, ...OTC meds can be covered with a doc's rx. So, if you take allergy meds, for example, you could call your doc and get the rx and then stockpile.<br /><br />Per the IRS - http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=227301,00.html<br /><br />JLVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-20599189111811126722011-12-07T13:28:00.415-06:002011-12-07T13:28:00.415-06:00Ours does allow for 3 extra months, but at least l...Ours does allow for 3 extra months, but at least last year - that was only to submit your claims, the actual expense had to have been incurred in the previous calendar year. I'll clarify though. I do know that teeth whitening, electric tooth brush accessories, or any other cosmetic procedures/items aren't covered, and neither or OTC drugs (which used to be- one year I took about 10 things of childrens pain meds to a local children's shelter). I've thought about Lasik- JP had it done and it was life changing (he was nearly legally blind), but I have 20/20 vision in my right eye, so even without my contact in, I can get around pretty well (just can't drive and I get headaches after an hour or two).LLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04431706155081017734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-71886303421117333712011-12-07T13:04:07.816-06:002011-12-07T13:04:07.816-06:00you might also want to check out the firm's po...you might also want to check out the firm's policy on using the funds. in recent years, more companies have moved toward allowing you up to 3 more months in the following calendar year to use the funds in your FSA. my current employer allows us to use funds through March 15, while my husband's allows expenses incurred through February 28. His past employer allowed expenses incurred through March 31. Not that you're necessarily planning to have any major illness or anything in the next few months, but it might give you time to plan for something. I think FSA covers chiro and some chiros provide massages so that might be a relaxing way to use some of those funds up if you had more time!<br /><br />Or consider something like LASIK (which totally rocks. Ten years later and I'm still 20/10 in both eyes after being extremely nearsighted with a big astigmatism. Husband had his 8 years ago and is still 20/10 as well. He could drive in familiar areas without glasses but still feels it was supremely worthwhile.)<br /><br />the IRS has revised guidelines around what constitutes an allowable expense so you might want to look through there to get some ideas on what you could do.LonghornBlondenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-31244128982426213072011-12-07T12:06:32.025-06:002011-12-07T12:06:32.025-06:00What about teeth whitening? It's not covered ...What about teeth whitening? It's not covered by my insurance plan and my dentist wanted $600 to create a customized tray for my teach along with the treatments. Of course it's not very practical, but it burns a lot of money quickly.Elizabethhttp://www.avianexplorer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-21390495313635289652011-12-07T11:39:37.007-06:002011-12-07T11:39:37.007-06:00I really love reading your blog, but I am a first ...I really love reading your blog, but I am a first time commenter. I'm pregnant with my first baby. Like JP and you, we will be a two-career family with demanding hours. I would LOVE to hear more about how you raised such great sleepers - any advice is welcome!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-72713015292351735082011-12-07T11:06:47.380-06:002011-12-07T11:06:47.380-06:00Thanks Stephanie- I hadn't heard of the HSA v....Thanks Stephanie- I hadn't heard of the HSA v. the FSA, I wonder if my firm offers it? Last year we hit our full family deductible (between my delivery, Claire's birth, JP's ear surgery, and Landon's ear tube and adenoidectomy) so I haven't had a situation where we've used less than a quarter of our reserved funds (and I even drastically reduced the allocation). We're all going to the dentist in the next 2 weeks and doing a few other check-ups, so that should use up at least half. And as I told JP the other day, if someone had said, you can all have a healthy year but you're goign to lose about $500 of pre-tax money, I would have taken the deal, so I'm just trying to keep that in mind...LLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04431706155081017734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-15555635043546221402011-12-07T10:55:20.369-06:002011-12-07T10:55:20.369-06:00Good idea, Stephanie. We had a very expensive hea...Good idea, Stephanie. We had a very expensive health year last year and so put the maximum into our FSA this year and got to Dec 1 with 2 grand in it. Eek! Turns out we could use it to buy a new mattress & box springs with a doctor's note. Huz's back doctor was on board, so HOORAY for a new much better bed and not losing all that money.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06655779061173009120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3552008288188142238.post-88986329068373498412011-12-07T10:33:23.899-06:002011-12-07T10:33:23.899-06:00Have you ever thought about a healthcare option th...Have you ever thought about a healthcare option through your provider that is a Health Savings Account (HSA) rather than a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? HSAs don't expire like FSAs and actually carry over indefinitely. Plus the money is always yours (I just changed jobs and was able to take my HSA with me to use on eligible purchases). Just a thought worth exploring!Stephanienoreply@blogger.com