Here's example #1 that is real and not some GOP scare tactic of something utterly stupid and counter to the idea of reducing healthcare costs.

I was just gathering up some receipts for FSA reimbursement for medicine costs and came across this warning:

“Effective, Jan 1, 2011, over the counter medicines and drugs do require a prescription from a qualified healthcare provider. “

So the point of FSA, for those that don't know, is that out of pocket health care costs including copays, OTC medical supplies/drugs can be paid for with pre-tax dollars. I've used it for years to save a few hundred bucks a year or so.

in prior years I had an FSA debit card that would automatically use the funds in my FSA account to pay for medical purchases. It was pretty simple and convenient. As a result of the healthcare bill just passed, now I have to get a fucking prescription if I'd like my Zyrtec to be reimbursed by FSA. So in order to save I dunno, maybe 7 bucks off a bottle of Zyrtec by using pre-tax dollars, I have to make an appt with my doctor, miss work, and spend a $15 co-pay for it to be eligible. And this will help drive down the cost of healthcare.

I can't wait for all of the other awesome things I'll discover as various provisions of the healthcare bill get phased in.

4/12/2011 3:33:24 PM

some asshole moderator should move this to the soap box

do you know any asshole mods who move threads all the time?

4/12/2011 3:35:36 PM

Someone mentioned that on here a while back (maybe in the allergies thread)

But I was sad to hear about this when I finally got insurance at my new job.

I have to get the ENT I babysit for to write me a prescription for zyrtec

4/12/2011 3:36:30 PM

what's really telling is seeing how many states are applying to be exempt from Obamacare...even ones with congressmen who pushed hard to pass these laws

4/12/2011 3:44:47 PM

I'm not in the least bit surprised.

4/12/2011 3:50:47 PM

of course you aren't

4/12/2011 3:54:02 PM

that's bullshit.

by the way i still have a debit card for my medical FSA and i have had no such letter saying such documentation is needed. shit i just bought condoms with mine a few days ago.

4/12/2011 3:54:05 PM

Be glad you can afford healthcare. Some of us don't have the means to pay for it.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 3:57 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 3:56:45 PM

^^here's the info straight from uncle sam:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=227308,00.html
....

also why are you buying condoms if you're married? get that IUD mang.


^ don't be stupid. you realize that this makes healthcare LESS affordable, right? it's an annoyance for me, and a much bigger issue for the poorer folks. don't be a partisan chucklefuck.


[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 3:59 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 3:58:42 PM

I pay about $85/month to BCBS for my coverage

4/12/2011 3:59:57 PM

Holler at $40 a month

4/12/2011 4:00:33 PM

she's already gone in for the IUD pre-exam and just missed the window after her last cycle b/c we were out of town so now we have to wait another month

4/12/2011 4:06:27 PM

just read that...WTF that is dumb...who gets a scrip for over the counter meds?

4/12/2011 4:07:41 PM

not that it'll do any good, but I suppose I'll go ahead and sent a letter to my congressman.

4/12/2011 4:12:14 PM

Bobby...have you heard from your FSA provider concerning this? I've bought several over the counter medication this year and have not had to provide any sort of prescription.

4/12/2011 4:23:00 PM

well, they didn't send me a debit card this year and my previous one expired. I went to submit a few receipts, one of which included a series of OTC meds, and it flashed the message in my OP. I first assumed it was a typo, and then did some googling and found the irs link that stated the bullshit.

diabetes testing supplies, can submit
contact lens solution, can submit
zyrtec, need a fucking script
nyquil, need a fucking script


unbelievable.

4/12/2011 4:26:51 PM

the last time i had an FSA i had too much extra money (wanted LASIK, ultimately couldn't get LASIK). i now have a stockpile of condoms and contacts to last a nuclear winter.

4/12/2011 4:27:24 PM

can I get some?

4/12/2011 4:29:05 PM

^^^ that's weird man. did you contact your FSA provider about sending you a new card?

4/12/2011 4:35:37 PM

no, dummy, he is writing his congressman to ask for a new card

4/12/2011 4:41:43 PM

4/12/2011 4:42:25 PM

this isn't so much obamacare as it is the government trying to raise extra revenues. It could have happened with or without obamacare.

4/12/2011 4:46:36 PM

except this is Section 9003 of the Affordable Care Act.

4/12/2011 4:47:07 PM

thank you captain obvious

4/12/2011 4:47:09 PM

I didn't get a new FSA card either but that's because they said since my account is still the same they're just rolling everything over.

And Jared, they'll let you pay now for whatever on the card but at the end of the year the FSA folks can come back and ask for receipts for things or additional information.

4/12/2011 4:50:31 PM

my FSA provider reviews everything on an as purchased basis. i've already had to provide some receipts to them.

but cass you are right about the roll over. mine said the same thing but i threw my card away last year when i ran out of funds thinking it wouldn't be good for this year but it would have i not thrown it away.

4/12/2011 5:05:07 PM

I think it is bullshit that FSA money does not carry-over. Afterall it is YOUR money. Why can't you "save" your untaxed healthcare dollars in case of emergency.

4/12/2011 5:07:37 PM

don't know about NC in particular, but in FL, the pharmacist can write prescription for OTC, so it can be claimed on FSA.

4/12/2011 5:08:40 PM

It's time we started making things right in this country, so let's start with raising the prices of gasoline to historical highs and making healthcare an expense so exorbitant that it undermines our financial system.




[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 5:37 PM. Reason : I fear big brother]

4/12/2011 5:23:31 PM

Hey, something is always better than nothing.

4/12/2011 5:33:26 PM

^ Not always true. having SOME cancer cells is NOT better than having none.

Some is not always better.

healthcare is a privelege, not a right. If you want it, pay for it. Don't force me to join your system or make me help pay for some of your expenses because most of you can't afford it.

I'm not here to save the fucking manatees. I've got my own life to worry about.

Human compassion has taken a turn towards stupid these past few decades.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 7:27 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 7:27:03 PM

4/12/2011 7:35:26 PM

Quote :

"THAT IS AWESOME"

4/12/2011 7:40:04 PM

Quote :

"Holler at $40 a month "

wtf is your deductible, $15k?

4/12/2011 7:41:28 PM

From what I gather, it was used to level the playing field so everyone uses their own post tax income to buy these things. Unless of course you ask your doctor to prescribe pepto for you.

4/12/2011 7:46:01 PM

Hey didn't you hear we've got Obama now. It's no longer cool to bitch about the gov't as they can do no wrong with the enlightened one behind the wheel.

4/12/2011 7:47:29 PM

Yes we are all so stupid and helpless. I am so happy that we have someone to try and count our calories, control our internet browsing, and remind us that bullying in school is bad because we're all so blinded. Ever notice how he comes off like "You Americans need to...do this...you Americans need to do that..." He almost has to stop himself and say, "We Americans..." a lot more than he should. Look for it, I promise.

4/12/2011 7:51:09 PM

Quote :

"So in order to save I dunno, maybe 7 bucks off a bottle of Zyrtec by using pre-tax dollars, I have to make an appt with my doctor, miss work, and spend a $15 co-pay for it to be eligible. And this will help drive down the cost of healthcare. "

so, your cost increases by $7 which then goes to subsidize insurance for the poor and this is a travesty? all that business about making an appt and getting a prescription is irrelevant because you're not going to do that. poor people aren't going to do it either because poor people have shitty insurance and copays a lot higher than $15. most poor people aren't even losing $7 because poor people don't get FSAs

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 7:57 PM. Reason : sp]

4/12/2011 7:56:56 PM

Quote :

"so, your cost increases by $7 which then goes to subsidize insurance for the poor and this is a travesty?"

Yes. Why the fuck am I obligated to help pay for their fucking insurance? I've got my own retirement and a supposed $128k tax deficit I'm trying to pay off. So in those regards, how about you let me help myself first and then we'll see about getting around to helping out some of these other poor folk.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:00 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 7:59:19 PM

bankers are always greedy

4/12/2011 8:00:12 PM

I'm not a banker. But good try there. And it's not about greed. It's about keeping what you earn and work for. I've got my own life to worry about. If people took proper care of themselves first like they should, Obamacare would be unnecessary. True story bro.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:03 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 8:01:25 PM

Quote :

"some asshole moderator should move this to the soap box do you know any asshole mods who move threads all the time?"

I LOL'd out loud

4/12/2011 8:03:12 PM

Quote :

" LAUGHED OUT LOUD out loud "

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:04 PM. Reason : .]

4/12/2011 8:04:15 PM

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:05 PM. Reason : caught it in the edit]

4/12/2011 8:04:35 PM

Dude, have you never just called your doctor's office and said, "I need a refill for my prescription for Zyrtec"? Easiest thing in the world. Holy crap.

Like, any practice worth a damn should be able to just re-up you and even contact your pharmacy for you.

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:11 PM. Reason : ...]

4/12/2011 8:10:44 PM

"Ask not what you can do for your country, ask what your country can do for you"

4/12/2011 8:16:05 PM

maybe you should read the rest of his inauguration speech before you embrace a quote from kennedy. he was a socialist even before it was cool...

better yet read the republican platform from the 50s and 60s; those damned socialists were everywhere back then

[Edited on April 12, 2011 at 8:34 PM. Reason : &c]

4/12/2011 8:31:07 PM

haha. someone thinks ObamaCare was actually supposed to bring the price of HC down.

4/12/2011 9:25:33 PM

Quote :

"Hey didn't you hear we've got Obama now. It's no longer cool to bitch about the gov't as they can do no wrong with the enlightened one behind the wheel."

That was Bush

Quote :

"Yes. Why the fuck am I obligated to help pay for their fucking insurance? I've got my own retirement and a supposed $128k tax deficit I'm trying to pay off. So in those regards, how about you let me help myself first and then we'll see about getting around to helping out some of these other poor folk."

I agree, I am sick of having to subsidize the rest of America's irresponsible baby making, now I have to pay for their healthcare.

4/12/2011 10:43:53 PM

Quote :

" I'm not here to save the fucking manatees."

4/12/2011 10:47:44 PM