Blog Entries tagged 'eligible expenses'

Is My La-Z-Boy an HSA Qualified Medical Expense?

shades — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:00:00 +0100

A few days ago I was fascinated by an article in the Wall Street Journal that talked about how working on laptops wreaks havoc on ones back shoulders and neck due to the horrible posture it promotes. As best I can tell, with a laptop, it is very difficult to get the keyboard and the monitor in the proper position to support proper posture and good back/neck/shoulder health. The result is back aches.

Until a few weeks ago, I suffered laptop back aches too.&n [...]

(Health Savings Account) HSA Rules 2009

shades — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:00:00 +0100

Now there's a seemingly dry topic for an article on HSAs but guess what? It is one of the top keyword searches driving individuals to this site.

And since we are all about HSA education, it seems only fitting that if you blasted through cyberspace and somehow landed on this page reading this article, and this sentence specifically, it seems only fair that we get you to a place that can get your question answered. If you will click right here you will be shot through cybe [...]

That Health Savings Account (HSA) You Hooked Is One Big Fish

shades — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

You've just been enrolled in an HSA for the first time huh? You might feel like you just hooked a big nasty line pulling pike. That sucker is and bad and feels like he's pulling you all over the place. How in the world are you going to deal with it?

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKXjqsXj44Y 425x355]

If you have the right gear to reel it in, and maybe a cold Budweiser, you might just get him in the boat. Except for the chilly beer, that's [...]

"Hows Yo Mamma?" Annual HDHP Enrollment & What is an HSA?

shades — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

About this time every year employers all over the nation unveil their latest, greatest insurance offerings for the coming year. They've worked over their brokers, agents, and consultants, dusted off a few old tricks and brought a couple new ones to the game. They've frosted up this package with Betty Crocker's finest, served it up on their finest china, put it on a fork and are now playing the "airplane" game with you.

Now you're probably thinking, " [...]

Health Savings Account 'Grab Bag' 101 - Yes You Can Have An HRA...

shades — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

...which stands for Health Reimbursement Arrangement or an FSA (flexible spending account) and still be HSA eligible. There are some rules around this which we are not going to cover here.

Say your back goes all wiggly and you need to go see your favorite back snapper, Dr. Flickfinger. Unfortunately, your high deductible health plan (HDHP) does not cover chiropractic, but lucky for you, your employer contributes to an HRA (or FSA) on your behalf. Say you rack up (bad c [...]

Health Savings Account 'Grab Bag' 101 - End of the Summer Blues

shades — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

It's "T" minus two days and counting; then my kids go back to school. My son is doing that "I'm sooooooo bored, there's nothing to doooooooooo" routine that I am pretty sure all kids under the age of about 15 perpetrate for the sole purpose of driving their parents nuts. The "go read a book," recommendation went over about as well as his sister pulling his hair or him twisting his ankle on his way to the pantry for the eighth time today [...]

HSA 'Grab Bag' 101 - Employer Reimbursements

shades — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

So if you have an HDHP through work and your employer is paying you back before you meet the deductible, you may NOT be qualified to contribute to a health savings account (HSA).

Now that pretty much smells like skunk but here's the deal. There are some things that your employer may be able to pay for like preventative care or what is called "disregarded coverage" (things your health plan wouldn't pay for anyway).

Of course it's ok for your employer to [...]

HSA 'Grab Bag' 101 - Mini Med Plans and HSAs

shades — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Here's one from the grab bag that if it sounds like something that applies to you, we recommend you go do a little bit of research (talk to your insurance agent).

One pretty smart way to give yourself some added coverage for specific health issues is to look at supplemental plans that will pay for things regardless of if you have hit your HDHP deductible. One form [...]

HSA 'Grab Bag'

shades — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

If you're really tuned into the world of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and High Deductible Health Plans this whole ‘Grab Bag' concept is yesterday's news to you. That said, most folks reading this have probably never heard of it and I, while I have heard of it and perused it, have been avoiding it like the plague.

Despite of its thought provoking and generally stimulating name, ‘Grab Bag,' the thing is what it is. It is also known as IRS Notice 2 [...]

Mental Health (savings accounts)

shades — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Is that an oxymoron? George Carlin would probably argue yes, but it is a serious subject, not to be taken (too) lightly.

I recently have been through the miserable process of trying to purchase an iPod Nano over the internet through a little auction site called eBay. You might have heard of it. After almost two months, several hundred bids on dozens of items I have nothing to show for my efforts.

I actually "won" 6 different Nanos, paid for them and th [...]

Two First Class Tickets And A Scalpel Please.

shades — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We wrote a blog a few months back on the pros and cons of Medical Tourism, but when we went to link back to it from this blog, it was nowhere to be found. If we find it we'll stick a link in here and you can go read it if you like. It focused on the pros and cons of medical tourism.

If you are not familiar with it, it is essentially the process of getting healthcare abroad.

Typically individuals engage in the process when there is large costs savings, it is a proce [...]

Ohhhhh Canadaaaaa....

shades — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:00:00 +0100

I know is like the Star Spangled Banner of Canada and sung when the Maple Leafs (or is it Leaves??) are in town. But it's also the little ditty that comes to mind as I begin to think about Canadian Pharmaceuticals/Drugs/ Meds or whatever you want to call them.

Right now, I know very little about the history of how some drugs got to be cheaper in Canada, so I will spread this rumor which sounds plausible. At some point I may try corroborate it, correct it, or replace it, [...]