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Bummed about FSA limit

November 5th, 2013 at 08:20 pm

Darnit! We just received our 2014 benefits guide at work, and I learned that there's a $2500 flex spending maximum for healthcare costs. My for-sure dental costs are $1200 and $1646, so the possible extra $2200 will have to be paid for after taxes.

I would cancel my scan this month to determine whether I need the extra procedure since I don't need to know before the open enrollment period ends now, but A) I'm still curious so I can finalize my 2014 budget some more, and B) I've got a weird hard lump in my gums that's probably a tooth fragment, but I wouldn't mind seeing what the dentist thinks about it.

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

9 Responses to “Bummed about FSA limit”

  1. ThriftoRama Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 08:29 pm 1383683353
    1383683353

    hmmm. Is this a different amount than last year?

  2. ceejay74 Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 08:45 pm 1383684347
    1383684347

    I don't know! I've never come close to maxing out; I typically put about $500 in. So I guess I thought I could contribute unlimited funds, or up to a bigger amount.

    I'm curious now; I'm going to see what it was last year.

    Our premiums are going up 9% too. Double bummer!

  3. ceejay74 Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 09:40 pm 1383687606
    1383687606

    Yep, it was the same last year. Sheesh, I feel stupid for not checking before.

  4. alsnafu Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 10:03 pm 1383688993
    1383688993

    How much does a CT scan cost in your area? Is it covered on your health/dental/flex plan? Would a less expensive x-ray reveal a tooth fragment? Sorry, our system is very different and scan costs between $300. - $1,000. out of pocket. I've never been able to fathom how they price CT scans, every time the price is so different.

  5. ironicone Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 10:03 pm 1383689011
    1383689011

    have your husband take out money in a flexible spending too. You can use the money for family expenses not just for yourself.

  6. ceejay74 Says:
    November 5th, 2013 at 10:10 pm 1383689415
    1383689415

    It's not a CT scan, I don't think ... I confirmed with them that they wouldn't be charging me for it, as it's part of the implant package that they already gave an estimate for.

    I'm not sure my husband, who's on a separate health insurance by himself and is on my dental plan, could use any flex money from his plan for my dental work. I guess it wouldn't hurt to find out for sure.

  7. creditcardfree Says:
    November 6th, 2013 at 01:06 am 1383699981
    1383699981

    That $2500 limit is part of the new ACA, and will be indexed with inflation for future years. Prior to 2013, employers could dictate the limit.

  8. ironicone Says:
    November 6th, 2013 at 02:19 am 1383704347
    1383704347

    I have used my husband's FSA in the same scenario

  9. ceejay74 Says:
    November 12th, 2013 at 10:43 pm 1384296220
    1384296220

    ironicone, thanks for the tip! It does sound as though a married couple can each take out $2500 and then use it for any qualified dependent, whether or not they're on the same health plan. If tomorrow's checkup reveals I do need the extra procedure, I'm going to have my husband set aside flex spending through his insurance.

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