Posted on 07/16/2010 6:01:19 PM PDT by Nevadan
We received a letter today from the American Fidelity Assurance Company, the company that handles our Flex and Section 125 Account for our Unreimbursed Medical Expenses, notifying us of changes to take place due to the "Affordable Care Act": "Effective January 1, 2011, in order to be reimbursed for over-the-counter drugs and medicines, the participant must provide a medical practitioner's prescription for the items."
The letter goes on to detail all the information that must be included in the prescription the doctor must now write for every single over-the-counter medication the participant wishes to submit for reimbursement. In addition to the normal prescription details that are required for actual prescription drugs, it also requires "a description of the condition for which the drug is being prescribed."
The letter continues with a list of items that will now need a prescription under this program: acid controllers, allergy and sinus meds, antibiotic products, anti-diarrheals, anti-gas, anti-itch & insect bites, baby rash ointments and creams, cold sore remedies, cough, cold & flu, digestive aids, feminine anti-fungal/anti-itch, hemorrhoidal preparations, laxatives, motion sickness, pain relief, respiratory treatments, sleep aids & sedatives, stomach remedies.
American Fidelity is also unsure at this time "how the new law will affect over-the-counter items that do not fall into the category of drug or medicines (such as bandages, reading glasses, sunscreen, hot/cold packs, hearing aid batteries, etc.)" In other words, they may need prescriptions for those too. Just not sure yet.
The logic of having to go to a doctor to get a written prescription for a medication that is readily available over-the-counter before I can submit the expense for reimbursement (from my own medical account from which my own income has been withheld for this very purpose) escapes me! Doctors are going to really hate this too.
Obviously they are trying to get people to stop using flex accounts by making them a pain in the ass for everyone. I got a notice about that, too.
send a copy to Ms. Nancy & Mr, Harry. Ask for an explanation.
Just put the same amount in a savings account and draw it when you need it then you have control and you don’t have to spend it all by the end of the year.
It makes some sense if you want to gather citizen’s information which is currently outside the medical records. Valuable mailing list, if nothing else.
re: Just put the same amount in a savings account and draw it when you need it then you have control and you don’t have to spend it all by the end of the year.
The nice thing about these accounts as compared to a regular savings account is that the money is deducted from you gross income so that your taxes are actually lowered. Just sticking it in a savings account doesn’t lower your taxes.
“”how the new law will affect over-the-counter items “”
What is the new law - in the healthcare reform bill or a new company policy?
We got a notice that our flex accounts won’t cover OTC stuff anymore. I wondered what was up with that. I guess they decided not to deal with all the paper work.
I use mine for glasses and prescription co-pays, so it doesn’t affect me too much, still sucks, tho. Another ‘gift’ from the Messiah.
re: What is the new law - in the healthcare reform bill or a new company policy?
It is a new company policy that will go into effect in January as a result of the “health care reform law”. American Fidelity is trying to comply with the new federal mandates.
“”send a copy to Ms. Nancy & Mr, Harry. Ask for an explanation.””
My husband and I both received letters yesterday from our Medicare Advantage carrier - CIGNA - that our coverage will no longer be offered after 12/31/10. I’m considering making copies of them and sending them to the “one” who promised if we were happy with our coverage, we wouldn’t have to change under the edict laid out by himself and Congress.
Of course, those of us paying attention didn’t believe it at the time either but I can’t resist the urge to make a stink about it...I already know the answer - we never said conditions wouldn’t change to make it necessary to change coverage. Like - all insurance companies writing such policies going out of business????
We lost our Medicare advantage plan almost a year ago due to their concerns over the new regulations.
I thought the RATcare law specified that you could no longer use FSA money for OTC drugs, but it sounds like the new restrictions may be more complex than a simple prohibition.
Alleve
Antibiotic creams
Below is a partial list of the OTC item categories:
Acid Controllers
Allergy and Sinus medicine
Antibiotics
Anti-Diarrheals
Anti-Gas Products
Anti-Itch and Insect Bite
Anti-Parasitic Treatments
Baby Rash Ointments/Creams
Cold Sore Remedies
Cough, Cold, and Flu
Digestive Aids
Motion Sickness
Pain Relievers
Respiratory Treatments
Stomach Remedies
The detailed SIGIS Eligible Products List will be published on December 15, 2010.
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