Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Using Flex spending card in Mexico



Recommended Posts

I am planning to have my surgery in Mexico with Dr Aceves on Nov 5th. I have $5000 on my flex spending card that I plan to use for the procedure. Nina wants me to go ahead and send the card to her to make sure it will work (sometimes they won't "swipe".) I am concerned it will become lost and then I will be up the creek. Has anyone else used a flex spending account to pay for VSG in Mexico? Should I send the card on to Nina?

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

Lisa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, Congrats on your Sleeve. I hope that you are recovering well. I am tentatively schedules to have surgery with Dr. Aceves early next year. I too also plan on useing my Flex Spending Debit Card. Can you tell me if you had any issues with this form of payment. Did Dr. Aceves have to fill out a "Medically Necessary" Form? Any info you provide will be helpful. Thanks!

I am planning to have my surgery in Mexico with Dr Aceves on Nov 5th. I have $5000 on my flex spending card that I plan to use for the procedure. Nina wants me to go ahead and send the card to her to make sure it will work (sometimes they won't "swipe".) I am concerned it will become lost and then I will be up the creek. Has anyone else used a flex spending account to pay for VSG in Mexico? Should I send the card on to Nina?

Thanks for helping out a newbie!

Lisa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hmmm...that's a good question. I would call your Flex Account company and ask them if the card can be used out of the country. Make sure you write down the names of the people you talk to if they say it can be used. I paid for mine using a credit card. I called the company in advance and let them know I would be making a large purchase in MX. They said everything was fine and it was noted on my account. I got to MX and the card wouldn't work. Yolanda was very nice and we called the credit card company. It turned out they didn't do what they were supposed to. Since they had noted on my account that I called, everything went through a lot faster.

There was also an issue with the exchange rate. My credit card charges a fee for using the card outside the country. You may also want to check and see how the Flex card handles that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hmmm...that's a good question. I would call your Flex Account company and ask them if the card can be used out of the country. Make sure you write down the names of the people you talk to if they say it can be used. I paid for mine using a credit card. I called the company in advance and let them know I would be making a large purchase in MX. They said everything was fine and it was noted on my account. I got to MX and the card wouldn't work. Yolanda was very nice and we called the credit card company. It turned out they didn't do what they were supposed to. Since they had noted on my account that I called, everything went through a lot faster.

There was also an issue with the exchange rate. My credit card charges a fee for using the card outside the country. You may also want to check and see how the Flex card handles that.

Thanks I will definately tried to gets those questions answered via the provider before I go. I would also love to hear from those that have actually used their Flex account in Mexico. PEACE!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi, Congrats on your Sleeve. I hope that you are recovering well. I am tentatively schedules to have surgery with Dr. Aceves early next year. I too also plan on useing my Flex Spending Debit Card. Can you tell me if you had any issues with this form of payment. Did Dr. Aceves have to fill out a "Medically Necessary" Form? Any info you provide will be helpful. Thanks!

My first step was to call the flex spending company. They said the procedure was covered and they had no problem with me using it in Mexico. My card looks just like a Visa, says Visa, and they used it at the hospital, just like a Visa. Easy peasy. I did have to pay a 3% terminal fee for swiping the card, so I paid for that separately. No problem what so ever using the card.

My flex spending requires an itemized bill that includes the procedure preformed, Surgeon's name, total cost, etc.

Good luck with your surgery!

Lisa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My first step was to call the flex spending company. They said the procedure was covered and they had no problem with me using it in Mexico. My card looks just like a Visa, says Visa, and they used it at the hospital, just like a Visa. Easy peasy. I did have to pay a 3% terminal fee for swiping the card, so I paid for that separately. No problem what so ever using the card.

My flex spending requires an itemized bill that includes the procedure preformed, Surgeon's name, total cost, etc.

Good luck with your surgery!

Lisa

Yippee! I am so glad it worked!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks! Good luck with your sleeve! Awesome

My first step was to call the flex spending company. They said the procedure was covered and they had no problem with me using it in Mexico. My card looks just like a Visa, says Visa, and they used it at the hospital, just like a Visa. Easy peasy. I did have to pay a 3% terminal fee for swiping the card, so I paid for that separately. No problem what so ever using the card.

My flex spending requires an itemized bill that includes the procedure preformed, Surgeon's name, total cost, etc.

Good luck with your surgery!

Lisa

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×