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Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: BrickByBrick on March 25, 2016, 02:50:10 PM

Title: FSA Conundrum
Post by: BrickByBrick on March 25, 2016, 02:50:10 PM

Hello Everyone

  So I maxed out my FSA for 2016 due to a surgery I was going to have in January.  I looked at the cost of the surgery and what my insurance would cover and calculated an out of pocket cost to me of ~$2300, hence why I went ahead and maxed out my FSA (assuming there would only otherwise be a few appointment copays and contacts to pay for).  In mid-January I had the surgery.  However, two months later I have just received, finally, the insurance adjusted out-of-pocket bill...and it was $0.

I don't understand how that's possible.  I immediately reviewed my deductibles and other plan information and looked at the EOB explanation of how the charges were adjusted.  My only thought is that the insurance company screwed up and paid the whole thing.

So my question is this - do I call them and ask about it?  Or take it and run?  Is there a risk they may come back months later for the difference if they notice this was a mistake?  My understanding is that this is the final status of the bill.  It leaves me with an issue - what can I possibly spend all this FSA money on?

Complicating this issue is that I will very likely have a new employer in the next two months.  On one hand, this will at least stop the FSA money from bleeding out of my current paycheck, on the other hand - I'm already potentially out a few hundred bucks (which in the grand scheme of things isn't too big a deal).

So - should I hold on to the money just in case?  Anyone have a similar issue happen to them?

Or should I spend as much of it as I can before I switch employers?

I guess there's a moral issue as well.  If I somehow managed to spend anywhere close to the Max over the next two months (no idea how) my understanding is that my current employer would be out the difference (since I would have spent more than had been deducted from my paycheck).  Conversely if I don't spend anything then I'm out the difference.

Title: Re: FSA Conundrum
Post by: AZDude on March 25, 2016, 02:59:12 PM

Call them and confirm everything. Be thorough. Then spend whatever you think you have contributed on whatever you can.

Title: Re: FSA Conundrum
Post by: Kaikou on March 26, 2016, 01:57:58 AM

There's a website fsastore.com