Eligible expenses for Health Savings Account (cosmetic prodecures)

[Allisonfaye]

Is anyone an expert on health savings accounts? Every year when I have to enroll for the medical stuff, I ask these questions and get 8 million different answers. I have always done a flexible spending account in the past but this year I want to try the health savings account.

Here are my questions:

1) Is Lasik an eligible medical expense?

2) I know a cosmetic procedure is not eligible but is a medically necessary one eligible?

 

[Haven]

I would email your resource for these things at work with questions about specific procedures. That way you''ll have a written statement from your employer regarding what is and isn''t covered.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

The answer (in my experience at least) is yes to one and possibly yes to two. Lasik is covered. Cosmetic procedures that are medically necessary (nose job due to broken nose or deviated septum) should be covered under your medical insurance. I''m not sure if procedures like breast enlargement would be; however, I believe breast reduction is. Make a list of questions and take them directly to your benefits person. Think up some examples if you think they don''t understand your question.

 

[mayachel]

I''m not sure what the difference is, but I know that Lasik was covered for flex spending on my fiance''s account.

 

[Lynn B]

LASIK is absolutely reimbursable through a spending account -- I did it!

And I would assume a non-cosmetic surgical procedure would be, too! (In fact, anything that is a covered expense by your insurance should be reimbursable through your flex account; and also many things that aren't covered by insurance... such as LASIK, OTC medicines, and 100s of other things.)

I LURVE my spending account!!!

 

[VRBeauty]

Are you talking about the type of account where you set aside some pre-tax dollars for medical expenses? If so, I believe the question is one of what the IRS allows you to claim as a medical expense for tax deduction purposes. So you want to call the IRS or check their website for a definitive answer.

BTW I''d answer "yes" to both of your questions, provided the your doctor says that the cosmetic procedure is medically needed.