Well, just did a big order at Drugstore.com (they have a handy list of FSA-approved items) and all I could manage to come up with was about $115 worth of stuff--that will cover my OTC drug needs for the next five years, most likely. Sadly, electric toothbrushes aren't on the list, or I'd replace my ancient one.
I'm pretty much up-to-date on things like blood work, but maybe an eye exam would be a good idea (now that I am 42 and find myself squinting on occasion, although I have always had 20-20 vision).
I do have an FSA debit card, but the administrator is ridiculously vigilant about what goes on it, so there is no chance at all of getting away with charging non-approved items at CVS.
Neither sunglasses (since I don't need vision correction) nor health club membership dues are covered--just went through the whole giant list on my FSA administrator's website. It doesn't allow much in the nutrition category, either. Nothing to do with dental care (toothbrushes, whiteners, etc.)--all I can put on the card is visits to the dentist.
You might want to check to see if you can get an electric toothbrush with a dentist note. My dentist had no problem filling out the form for me. I stocked up on heating pads, ace wraps, etc last time this happened to me. You should also go get an eye exam if you haven't had one recently. Even someone with good vision should be seen every 4-5 years before age 50, every 2 years from 50-70, every year over 70. If you wanted sunglasses, most docs would have no problem writing a prescription with a low power since you can find a mild refractive error in most people. You could also buy a nice pair of reading glasses since you are likely to need them soon.
Just made the appointment. This seems like a good idea. My dad never wore glasses until he was in his 40s, so it could be that I am in line for this. Plus, I haven't seen an eye doctor for more than 30 years!
.
Please share your post visit results. I'm expecting a WOW I can see again!
__________________
"We may be wrong," Biden said. "But the point is, we believe in what we're doing."
Foot orthotics, acupuncture (something massage-esque), blood pressure monitor. Best idea is the eye doctor, get the most minor Rx you can get and then get nice shades.
You can actually get stuff with a 0 prescription on it.
I have a pair of glasses with a magnetic clip-on sunglass frame. The original plastic in them popped out a million times and had acquired enough scratches to be annoying from this.
Due to a patent dispute there was no way to simply buy a new one. The place that I bought them from had an idea, though--he ordered a pair of lenses that were polarized but had no prescription on them at all and put those in the clip-on.
They still do pop out on occasion but nothing like they used to and it's polycarbonate rather than the cheap plastic, they haven't picked up a scratch since.
Note that this is an old guy in an independent shop who hasn't adapted to the new ways, sometimes to his detriment. I don't know if you could do the same thing at a chain or not.
You might want to check to see if you can get an electric toothbrush with a dentist note. My dentist had no problem filling out the form for me. I stocked up on heating pads, ace wraps, etc last time this happened to me. You should also go get an eye exam if you haven't had one recently. Even someone with good vision should be seen every 4-5 years before age 50, every 2 years from 50-70, every year over 70. If you wanted sunglasses, most docs would have no problem writing a prescription with a low power since you can find a mild refractive error in most people. You could also buy a nice pair of reading glasses since you are likely to need them soon.
Note, also, that 20-20 doesn't mean no error.
I used to reliably be able to do 20-15 and sometimes even get the 20-13 line--yet as my eyes age I found out I was farsighted by over 2 diopters. So long as my eyes could focus far enough to cover this I never knew (although, in hindsight I did get a clue. When I came down with malaria the really odd thing about it was that I couldn't read--print was just a blur. I now realize that it was doing something to the range over which I could focus.)
Now I'm IIRC 20-30 & 20-100 without glasses, yet I still do pretty well against the 20-15 line with proper correction.
Please share your post visit results. I'm expecting a WOW I can see again!
I will certainly post the results--the eye doctor visit is scheduled for the 16th. I still maintain that my eyesight is damn good, though, especially seeing far away. I'm spotting those raccoons, baby!
I had this dilemma last year - and it isn't easy to find FSA approved stuff. So I ended up spending $400 on cough drops, first aid kits and pain killers for all our family and friends.
Can you buy medical equipment and donate it? I'm thinking crutches, diabetic testing supplies, blood pressure monitor. I'm not sure it's legal or ethical to take a charitable deduction for the donation, but you would feel good about doing it.
__________________
From C. Thompson's updated wisdom for the modern traveler: 1 Hang up on morons 2 Don't be that guy 3 Stop feeling so entitled
Are vaccinations eligible? If so, consider whether you may need the following:
diptheria / tetanus / pertussis -- if it has been 10 years or close to that since the last one
measles / mumps / rubella -- if there is question about the efficacy of your childhood vaccination, or whether you actually had it (or the diseases)
polio -- if there is question about the efficacy of your childhood vaccination, or whether you actually had it (or the disease)
typhoid -- if you travel to where typhoid is endemic
2009 seasonal influenza
2009 novel H1N1 influenza
pneumonia -- can strike while you are fighting influenza (vaccine is for 23 common types of bacterial pneumonia)
hepatitis A -- if you travel to where hepatitis A is endemic
hepatitis B -- harder to get, but can become chronic
chickenpox -- if you have not had chickenpox previously (chickenpox can be a severe disease in adults)
shingles -- if you have had chickenpox previously
You'll have to decide if this is ethical or not but could you buy some high $ OTC meds/product, charge them to your FSA then return them later for a store credit or cash?
This is the way to go, if you have some system of manually submitting expenses for reimbursement.
A fancy blood-pressure monitor, a lot of Claritin and Nicoderm will ring up a couple hundred dollars in a hurry.
