Tuesday, May 24, 2011

When Others Mess Up Your Budget

GRRRR!!!!

Right now, as G-man and I are trying to work on our issues, we are each seeking professional help individually, as well as as a couple.  We pay a $20 co-pay each visit.  So just for these three weekly visits, we are shelling out $60.

Bossy gets occupational therapy weekly, at another $20. 

For those who are not math saavy...that is $80 a week....or between $320-$400 a month (depending on how the month runs), just on co-pays. 

We signed up with our flexible spending plan during open enrollment, which automatically takes roughly $145 per pay check out.   The way our plan works is as soon as a claim is paid by the insurance company, we are credited our remaining amount.  In the ideal world, we pay the co-pay, and fairly quickly we are reimbursed.

At this point, we are shelling out money much faster than it is being replenished.  If it takes the doctor's office longer to send in the claim, or to settle the claim....it takes longer for us to be reimbursed.  And this cycle is starting to cause problems.

We need that money back.  We have bills to pay.  We are already paying out almost $300 a month into the account.  If we didn't have the FSA, we would already have the money to pay (in theory).  Of course, then we don't get the tax benefit.  But right now the equation isn't balanced.

I know shortly we will get a huge reimbursement, and it will all be ok.  But right now, I have had to "borrow" $200 from our savings account to get us to tomorrow (my payday), which will go back by the end the week.  But we need to go grocery shopping.  We need to pay the water bill.

In short....we need our money back!!!

Those people wait until the end of the year and then submit their receipts....good for you that you can do that.  But we can't.  When you spend as much out of pocket as we do on medical, we just can't do that.  (we spend almost 15% of our gross income on medical alone).

So dearest doctors....please figure out your billing issues.  We need our money!!!!

12 comments:

  1. It may depend on FSA plans, but with mine, if I get a receipt at the doctor's office/physical therapist office, I can fax that in and then the money is direct deposited into my checking within 24 hours. Check to see if you can just submit a receipt.

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  2. that is frustrating.
    does your fsa offer a credit card option? I just pay with a credit card that is automatically deducted from my FSA.

    i'm sure you would have already figured that out if they did, so I will just add: that sucks! i wish they would speed it up!

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  3. Some of FSA plans won't accept receipts. Mine didn't. I had to have the EOB. I can relate!

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  4. That's frustrating. Like the others said, I'd look into a debit card associated with the FSA or submit your receipts through fax the next morning for a quick turnaround. Good luck!

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  5. Nope...no debit card option. Nope...can't send in receipts for things that go through insurance. The federal government plans are too large for them to allow this stuff.

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  6. Look, you are adults and I'm sure you've had enough therapy... save that $60 per week!? Or do you feel like you still need it? don't ask the shrink he probably charges 300 per hour and is happy to have you there LOL

    HS

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  7. @HS - when your spouse cheats on you and your marriage is in jeopardy....then tell me how much of an adult you are and that you don't need help.

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  8. Mysti girl - XXXOOOOXXXX - you do what you need to do!

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  9. I agree with Rhitter94. I'm so sorry that you continually have a rough time with things. I have a lot of comments that I would respond with to one of the above posters that left a comment, which seemed extremely heartless and rude, but that is neither here nor there, and I'm not going to insult you by displaying my opinions on something. Anyway, I really hope that things look up in your favor. It might not seem like it, but you inspire me. I see someone (via blog) going through so much in their life, but still manage to hold it together for their children, for their marriage, and to do it with such strength and dignity...well... it amazes me. You do what you think is right and the rest will follow. Best wishes as always.

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  10. Once again as I am from Australia I don't really understand your health system. (Yay, universal health care). It seems pretty tough for you at the moment. I think though you have had some really positive posts recently, so you know you are tracking in the right direction. I think, and not actually privvy to your home life, that you seem to be in a more productive/positive space in your relationship. I am sure it is not a barrel of monkeys there at the moment, but the bitterness seems to not be just below the surface. Your numbers look great. You seem to have some great strategies in place at the moment (ie the camp payment method) and you are working on the tough relationship stuff. You are doing a really fantastic job. You have a heap of people who are supporting you via this blog.

    I am sure it wasn't HS intention to insult, I am sure I have seen him post positively on your blog in the past. I think he has chosen his words very very VERY poorly. In the past I have put a post on here that was meant as constructive feed back, but I honestly wrote and rewrote that several times before posting.

    As a temporary working solution, is it possible that the therapist will work out a schedule to go 3 out of every 4 weeks. At least saving you 40 each month.

    Not sure if you listen to NPR "this American Life" (why does an Australian listen to this?? Coz it is great) This week it was on infidelity in a marriage. 3 stories about infidelity. A daughter interviewing her mother about the affair she had when the daughter was 12, as well as the other 2 people (husband and lover) and a story about a man who nearly cheated on his wife and a story about the 'other woman". may not be something you want to listen to right now, but perhaps one day in the future it might interest you. Like most of Ira's documentaries it was pretty powerful.


    Sorry long post. Keep your chin up.

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  11. I hear ya. Although we don't have that problem...but I can understand about the insurance. I get bills for copays even though I paid the $10 copay...our second insurance takes longer than the first so they inturn cross paths and send us a statement asking for money & it gets very confusing. I hope it all works out for you. Just keep hounding them.

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  12. No insults, sorry... I just don't want money causing more issues, remember that's one of the main causes for divorce...

    HS

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