Flexible Spending/Flex Benefits...How much?

kimillionaire · November 27, 2007

I need to enroll in Flexible Spending/Flex Benefits for next year but I don't know how much to take out. Can anyone help me with a ROUGH Guess-timate of how much it may cost after insurance pays? Is it just co-pays & deductibles?

Thanks in advance for help. My hope is to get banded next year when I get on my husband's insurance.

Thanks,

Kim

Ellisa · November 28, 2007

It depends on the policy. It also depends on if your surgeon and hospital are in network or not. Some surgeons require "program fees" which are not covered by insurance, and aren't counted by the insurance company as "out of pocket." There may be other appointments and tests that may or may not be covered, such as psych evaluation, sleep apnea testing, etc. Some policies cover fills, others do not.

You'll have to contact the insurance company and ask what your out of pocket expenses are for the surgery and the other procedures.

Keep in mind that it's not just which insurance company you have, they offer a variety of policies. Some better than others.

Hope this helps

TracyinKS · December 5, 2007

For our employees Medical and Dependant Flex accounts can have $5000.00 per year..... I personally put my complete OUT OF POCKET MAX on mine in 2007 ($3900.00) and I have $200 left in my account, but I've used it for over the counter, pharmacy, eye exam, contacts and dental bills as well......

I had a $1500.00 copay, and each of my fills are billed at $29.66 co insurance........... (I've had 5)

Talk to the insurance person and find out what your deductible and then what level it is covered for both the doctor and the hospital...... Using my flex account was by far the best thing I could of done.. (I used it for both the pysc eval and nutrition eval, since I had to have them done to qualify) I did have to call and fax in stuff .. but it was all paid by my flex card.

Chrisann · December 5, 2007

I agree with finding out how much the insurance company is going to cover. I found out today that my Flex plan will cover liquid vitamins and supplements if the doctor writes a note stating they are necessary. Flex can cover the fills, and the copays to the doctors office every time you have to go. It can cover the Gas X that everyone here recommends for right after the surgery. Plus it covers glasses, and contacts, visits to the dentist, prescriptions, over the counter drugs, and even bandaids. I would take as much as you can afford to take out of your salary. At the end of the year, if you have $$ left over, gather the receipts from your family members and friends for drug store purchases and submit them.