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

Has Anyone Used Flex Benefits to Pay for Part of Surgery?



Recommended Posts

I am a school teacher and I have a flex benefit plan. In January I will have 2500 dollars on my Visa card. I wanted to use this to pay for some of my surgery and I would way out of pocket for the remaining amount. Has anyone used their benefits to help pay for their surgery?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tried to use mine. I had quite a bit on my flex account Visa also. However, my coordinator tried to run it through and it didn't accept it. I ended up having to pay out of pocket and used my flex benefit card towards my medical supplies and Vitamins, etc. after surgery. You should still try and see if it works for you. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I tried to use mine. I had quite a bit on my flex account Visa also. However, my coordinator tried to run it through and it didn't accept it. I ended up having to pay out of pocket and used my flex benefit card towards my medical supplies and Vitamins, etc. after surgery. You should still try and see if it works for you. Good luck!

Did you have surgery in Mexico. If so I can see why the charge might not have been approved. Although I can't say with certainty, I believe that this should be able to be charged to a Flex card at a provider in the US.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I thought about doing that a few years ago and it wasn't allowed on the insurance plan I had at the time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Well I have heard there are several companies that are actually based here in the U.S. but the surgeries are performed in Mexico. I suppose I need to talk with my someone with my benefits plan to see if this would be acceptable.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

THis is exactly what I need to know as well. I am looking into to Mexico as well. I already had a band put in in the States 2009. It needs to be removed. You can see my story about my band complications. My insurance will remove it but wont do a sleeve until my BMI is high enough to qualify. I am trying to find out what I have in my flex spending account on health and apply to surgery in Mexico. Two of my friends have done it, swear by it. They loved the entire process, the hospital everything and are really pushing me to go this route. Dr. Lopez did their surgery. I am sure there a million Dr. Lopezs', it was in TJ. But that is all I know.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did have my surgery in Mexico. One of the best decision that I have ever made in my life. Went from a size 18/16 pant and XL shirt to a size 12 pant and M/L shirt in just 3 months!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That is great! That is exactly what size I am now and I can't wait until I am a size 12!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I talked to someone in my flex benefits plan today and was told that I would have to pay for my surgery up front and then they would reimburse me once I turned in my receipt, even if the surgery was in Mexico. So I have at least $2500 in my account and I will have to pay out of pocket for the rest. Not too bad.

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

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 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

    ×