coloratura Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Help! I am being banded next Thursday (the 21st) and was going to pay part of the fee with my Healthcare Flexible Spending Card, but found out that the clinic does not take credit cards at all. (who in this day and age doesn't take credit cards?!) They said to pay through PayPal, but because PayPal is not a medical facility, I cannot use my card. Has anyone had any experience with using a healthcare flexible spending account for the lapband surgery? Carolyn said I can pay up front and then file with my flexible spending and get reimbursed. I'm having to scramble for the up front money, because I was counting on just using my card, (just had to pay $1000 for a dental crown...ouch) but has anyone filed their surgery on their flexible spending account? Are there any issues with the surgery being done outside the US that would make it ineligible? I have looked at all the IRS info on allowable medical expense deductions and cannot find anything about it. I would appreciate any insight! The good news is that with the new medical deduction guidelines, if you are obese, treatment specifically for obesity, even a health club membership, is deductible if it is prescribed by a doctor! Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishinginWA Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Help!I am being banded next Thursday (the 21st) and was going to pay part of the fee with my Healthcare Flexible Spending Card, but found out that the clinic does not take credit cards at all. (who in this day and age doesn't take credit cards?!) They said to pay through PayPal, but because PayPal is not a medical facility, I cannot use my card. Has anyone had any experience with using a healthcare flexible spending account for the lapband surgery? Carolyn said I can pay up front and then file with my flexible spending and get reimbursed. I'm having to scramble for the up front money, because I was counting on just using my card, (just had to pay $1000 for a dental crown...ouch) but has anyone filed their surgery on their flexible spending account? Are there any issues with the surgery being done outside the US that would make it ineligible? I have looked at all the IRS info on allowable medical expense deductions and cannot find anything about it. I would appreciate any insight! The good news is that with the new medical deduction guidelines, if you are obese, treatment specifically for obesity, even a health club membership, is deductible if it is prescribed by a doctor! Thanks!!! Hey, I used part of Flexible Spending on my Lap Band surgery. I took out a credit card advance to pay the clinic. When I turn in my reciept to be reimbursed I had to have a letter from the doctor at the clinic why I needed surgery(which seemed crazy to me-well dah I'm to fat). So, my advice is to get a letter while your at the clinic to turn in for surgery reimbursement. Good Luck FYI- I'm Still thrilled with the medical care I received Connie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriBecky Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 We do take credits cards, we just take them through Paypal. Too many of our patients would come down, credit card in hand only to have their credit card company not accept the charge because it is a foreign country and that waves a red flag... then we have to cancel that patients surgery. Paypal is a safer, easier way to make your payments without having to give out your credit card number! We still sometimes have some credit card companies not allow the full amount to go through and our patients have to make several smaller payments over the course of several days. If you are speaking of Care Credit, no we don't take them because they don't take us. They won't finance surgeries performed outside of the U.S. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloratura Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 We do take credits cards, we just take them through Paypal. Too many of our patients would come down, credit card in hand only to have their credit card company not accept the charge because it is a foreign country and that waves a red flag... then we have to cancel that patients surgery. Paypal is a safer, easier way to make your payments without having to give out your credit card number! We still sometimes have some credit card companies not allow the full amount to go through and our patients have to make several smaller payments over the course of several days. If you are speaking of Care Credit, no we don't take them because they don't take us. They won't finance surgeries performed outside of the U.S. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions We do take credits cards, we just take them through Paypal. Too many of our patients would come down, credit card in hand only to have their credit card company not accept the charge because it is a foreign country and that waves a red flag... then we have to cancel that patients surgery. Paypal is a safer, easier way to make your payments without having to give out your credit card number! We still sometimes have some credit card companies not allow the full amount to go through and our patients have to make several smaller payments over the course of several days. If you are speaking of Care Credit, no we don't take them because they don't take us. They won't finance surgeries performed outside of the U.S. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions Thanks for the response. I have had a PayPal account for years and use it frequently. The problem is that because PayPal is not coded as a medical provider, I am not able to use my card. A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account is money that you have taken from your paycheck pre-tax. The money can be used for any medical expenses that are allowable with the IRS. Our flexible spending account administrator (ADP) issues a Visa card that you can use to pay any eligible expenses....but the place where you use it has to have a special code in their credit card machine that designates it as a supplier of medical services or products. For instance WalMart sells over the counter medications, so they have that designation code in their credit card. Pharmacies and doctors' offices have the same coding. But because PayPal does not have that coding, my flexible spending card is refused. I'm sure that if Dr. Ortiz accepted credit cards directly through his website, he would get that medical coding and there would be no problem for people in my situation. And if we are required to pay in advance, there would be no problem with surprises once we got down there. As it is now, I am having to scramble for the $1500 up front. Of course I will be reimbursed for it afterward, once I file it, but because I am nervous enough about going for the surgery alone, it has sort of frazzled and upset me...especially when I was so worried that I would not be able to have my surgery as scheduled. To top it off.....my temporary crown, that I had to shell out so much money for this week, is hurting! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriBecky Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Thanks for the response. I have had a PayPal account for years and use it frequently. The problem is that because PayPal is not coded as a medical provider, I am not able to use my card. A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account is money that you have taken from your paycheck pre-tax. The money can be used for any medical expenses that are allowable with the IRS. Our flexible spending account administrator (ADP) issues a Visa card that you can use to pay any eligible expenses....but the place where you use it has to have a special code in their credit card machine that designates it as a supplier of medical services or products. For instance WalMart sells over the counter medications, so they have that designation code in their credit card. Pharmacies and doctors' offices have the same coding. But because PayPal does not have that coding, my flexible spending card is refused. I'm sure that if Dr. Ortiz accepted credit cards directly through his website, he would get that medical coding and there would be no problem for people in my situation. And if we are required to pay in advance, there would be no problem with surprises once we got down there. As it is now, I am having to scramble for the $1500 up front. Of course I will be reimbursed for it afterward, once I file it, but because I am nervous enough about going for the surgery alone, it has sort of frazzled and upset me...especially when I was so worried that I would not be able to have my surgery as scheduled. To top it off.....my temporary crown, that I had to shell out so much money for this week, is hurting! LOL If it would help you to have me send you a receipt for the $$ up front I can do that - just let me know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloratura Posted June 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 [quote name='wishinginWA' date='Jun 14 2007, 04:51 PM' pos Hey, I used part of Flexible Spending on my Lap Band surgery. I took out a credit card advance to pay the clinic. When I turn in my reciept to be reimbursed I had to have a letter from the doctor at the clinic why I needed surgery(which seemed crazy to me-well dah I'm to fat). So, my advice is to get a letter while your at the clinic to turn in for surgery reimbursement. Good Luck FYI- I'm Still thrilled with the medical care I received Connie Great advice! Thank you so much for your feedback. Were you banded in Mexico? If so, did you have any problem because the surgery wasn't done in the US? Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoriBecky Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 I can take care of that for you BEFORE surgery too that way you can get reimbursement more quickly. I can also state it in a way that won't be specific on the type of surgery if you aren't telling your employer. Just let me know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coloratura Posted June 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now