<p>My D's school charges a clinical fee each semester if you do not opt-in to the student health insurance coverage. The fee provides basic access to the Student Health Services clinic. Do you think that it is appropriate to submit this fee for reimbursement under a health care flexible benefits reimbursement account? Have any of you ever done so? Because of the "use it or lose it" provisions of such an account I stand to lose some money because I over estimated what our health care expenses would be this year. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Check with your employee benefits office. When my son went on COBRA I assumed I could submit the cost to Flex, and they said those expenses were excluded.</p>
<p>SAINT - same situation here - health fee every semester for basic health services - but we were NOT allowed to use that fee under the flex benefit - but we were able to use costs relating to the clinic fee - ie - lab fees - drug fees/perscription costs etc... (things not covered under health insurance plan) under the flex benefit - just as we would have had the kiddo been at home and had those expenses</p>
<p>If I am going to have money left in the account I usually get one of us a new pair of glasses or get a new supply of contacts rather than lose the money. Since it usually covers over the counter medicines you might want to restock your medicine cabinet. It really is hard to estimate just right though!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies. The knowledge base of cc posters is just incredible!</p>
<p>Oh yes, glasses, prescription sunglasses I normally wouldn't ever get, extra contacts, stock up on contact solution, an accupuncture treatment or two (covered on our flex), Stock up on all over counter meds for next school year for kiddos and the house (check expiration dates), a blood pressure monitor one year, accelerate dental work or get work done you normally couldn't, accelarate immunizations, accelarate any checkups or appts you would normally do in the two months after plan ends. </p>
<p>Also, get your kid to send you any target, walmart, etc receipt they still have laying around on their floor that has any over the counter meds and submit those. That can usually get me another $50 bucks or so. (lots of allergies).</p>
<p>The nice part is that the expenses you incur the couple of months after your plan year ends can go to either last year's flex or this year's so if you overspend on those over the counter things, you can claim some on this years so you are still ahead.</p>
<p>but the best part of the FSA is that it's all with pretax money and it reduces your AGI. And fafsa doesn't add it back in!</p>