Taxpayers lose key benefit in health care law beg. 1/11

[Pandora]

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/10/27/taxpayers-lose-key-benefit-health-care-law

Excerpt:


" Some 45 million people are about to lose a key tax break in health care. Starting in January, they'll have to get what amounts to a prescription from a doctor in order to get reimbursed for over-the-counter medications such as cold and flu remedies or allergy medicines.

Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Plans, an industry group, says, "The changes are going to add an unnecessary cost to the system and make it more difficult for patients to obtain medication they currently rely on."

Those millions of Americans are getting notices that, beginning with the new year, pre-tax money they set aside for flexible spending or health savings accounts can no longer be used for over-the-counter drugs. That is, unless a doctor writes what amounts to a prescription.

Chris Krese of the Association of Chain Drug Stores says, "We are talking about 15 thousand over-the-counter products that are now subject to this new policy."

Items that fall under the new law include Tylenol, remedies for stomach ailments, cold and cough medicines, allergy medications and many, many others.The drugstore association is asking the federal government to delay the rules for at least two years "in order to carry this out in a way that minimizes consumer confusion."

One of the complications of this policy is that the only way people can get reimbursed for over-the-counter drugs will be to make an appointment with their doctor and get a sort of prescription for the drugs in question in order to qualify for flexible spending money. "

[tobee43]

http://politics.blogs.foxnews.com/20...ealth-care-law

Excerpt:


" Some 45 million people are about to lose a key tax break in health care. Starting in January, they'll have to get what amounts to a prescription from a doctor in order to get reimbursed for over-the-counter medications such as cold and flu remedies or allergy medicines.

Robert Zirkelbach of America's Health Plans, an industry group, says, "The changes are going to add an unnecessary cost to the system and make it more difficult for patients to obtain medication they currently rely on."

Those millions of Americans are getting notices that, beginning with the new year, pre-tax money they set aside for flexible spending or health savings accounts can no longer be used for over-the-counter drugs. That is, unless a doctor writes what amounts to a prescription.

Chris Krese of the Association of Chain Drug Stores says, "We are talking about 15 thousand over-the-counter products that are now subject to this new policy."

Items that fall under the new law include Tylenol, remedies for stomach ailments, cold and cough medicines, allergy medications and many, many others.The drugstore association is asking the federal government to delay the rules for at least two years "in order to carry this out in a way that minimizes consumer confusion."

One of the complications of this policy is that the only way people can get reimbursed for over-the-counter drugs will be to make an appointment with their doctor and get a sort of prescription for the drugs in question in order to qualify for flexible spending money. "

GREAT...more good news...first we are losing our unemployment insurance and now starting jan...we get all these wonderful changes that screw us again???

anyone have any good news...??? like i THOUGHT or at least the tv keeps telling me the recession is over??? did i miss something ...somewhere???

[Pandora]

They have us coming and going it seems - sorry Tobee

This is why I dont watch the news any longer - I used to watch it in the morning for a few hours, then at 6 and again at 10. So depressing and I'd just get angrier as I sat there listening / watching. Last night was the first time I watched the news in months and only because we had tornado's in the area.

[tobee43]

They have us coming and going it seems - sorry Tobee

This is why I dont watch the news any longer - I used to watch it in the morning for a few hours, then at 6 and again at 10. So depressing and I'd just get angrier as I sat there listening / watching. Last night was the first time I watched the news in months and only because we had tornado's in the area.

well...no sense in killing the messenger...

but i say we all need some good news...anyone have any at all out there???

[tobee43]

OH!!! joe got a JOB!!!

that's good news!

[WhatMoney]

Here is a politics-free article explaining the loss of tax-exempt status for some OTC drugs and medicines:

http://www.medtipster.com/blog/?p=616

Before 2003, you could not purchase OTC drugs like antacids or cough drops with FSA, HSA, or HRA tax exempt funds. This new ruling by the IRS simply restores the prior rules. No one is going to schedule a Dr. office visit to get a prescription for a bottle of Pepto Bismo, or aspirin. You'll just have to pay for it with your regular after-tax income, like the rest of us.

OTC medicines aren’t a big part of FSA spending, on average. Only 9 percent of FSA reimbursement claims, and only 3 percent of FSA dollars, are for purchases of over-the-counter drugs and medicines, according to CBIZ, a professional-services company that processes 46,000 FSA claims per month.

Taxpayers with FSA's etc. will still spend slightly more money assuming you used your FSA funds for OTC supplies and you are in a high tax bracket.

I think toilet paper and toothpaste should be tax deductable too - aren't they health related items?

[tobee43]

I think toilet paper and toothpaste should be tax deductable too - aren't they health related items?

i second that motion!

[Pandora]

I can see my tax accountant now ... "Uh...you're deducting Charmin? As in ....toiletpaper?" LOL

Hell yes I am - you see the price of that stuff lately?

[tobee43]

I can see my tax accountant now ... "Uh...you're deducting Charmin? As in ....toiletpaper?" LOL

Hell yes I am - you see the price of that stuff lately?

yes, indeed....it's getting to the point that it's costing one a gold bullion to wipe ones proverbial butt...now that IS sad.

[NowImDownInIt]

DISCLAIMER: POLITICAL MESSAGE BELOW

This is just one of the many ways that the government is covertly increasing taxes to fund the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."

This act is the Robin Hood of health care.

I use the hell out of my FSA on children's Tylenol, Excedrin Migraine, cough syrup, first aid kits. You have no idea how comforting it is to know that when I have no money in the account I can still go and get tylenol for my feverish 18 month old.

It disgusts me how there are such claims that our taxes will not increase to foot the bill of this plan.

Let's put additional taxes on tanning beds (which is essentially a tax on white people, as let's face it, no one else uses tanning beds), increase fees to private insurance, decrease tax incentive programs, increase paperwork for medicaid/medicare providers all the while decreasing coverage through the basic obliteration of the Advantage program, charge fees to companies that offer better-than-average policies to their employees (Cadillac plans), and see who benefits.

This health care reform is debilitating to the Medicaid program. It's disgusting.

Who uses FSA? This one is obvious. It is only available to the working class. So who experiences the brunt of all the new restrictions aimed at funding the program that they can't even benefit from? The working class.

Where was the government given the constitutional right to penalize it's citizens for not acquiring health insurance?
-This message brought to you by Republican Chairperson of Precinct 170 in Harris County.

[banca rotta]

well...no sense in killing the messenger...

but i say we all need some good news...anyone have any at all out there???

Yes! People are finally waking up! That's great news!!!


Pearl harbor woke the people up back then and after the horrors of war the country was great!

Now that we are getting bombed economically we will fight back and win.

If American Idle has another good season next year then I'm afraid all bets are off.

[WhatMoney]

Yes! People are finally waking up! That's great news!!!
Pearl harbor woke the people up back then and after the horrors of war the country was great!
Now that we are getting bombed economically we will fight back and win.

If American Idle has another good season next year then I'm afraid all bets are off.

Oh their season will be good - so you will have another year to spread the doom and gloom banca.

It's about time that Simon pr*ck left the show - they actually have two singers as judges now - what a novel concept for judging singing talent.

[WhatMoney]

DISCLAIMER: POLITICAL MESSAGE BELOW
. . .
-This message brought to you by Republican Chairperson of Precinct 170 in Harris County.

It certainly was, with all the inaccuracies and baiting of any good campaign circular.

Don't worry, when the Republicans take over Congress next year all your problems will be solved.

[banca rotta]

Oh their season will be good - so you will have another year to spread the doom and gloom banca.

It's about time that Simon pr*ck left the show - they actually have two singers as judges now - what a novel concept for judging singing talent.

I'm sure it will be good whatmoney.

Get your autodial ready and hold on for a good season!

Doom & gloom? Me? Naaa! I'm fine. No complaints. I'm just reporting the truth to anyone that cares. If anyone doesn't care no problem.

Hey maybe I will hold my nose and watch idle and see you on there.

[banca rotta]

It certainly was, with all the inaccuracies and baiting of any good campaign circular.

Don't worry, when the Republicans take over Congress next year all your problems will be solved.

And to think there are those that believe this. Naaa. They will win big tomorrow and look stupid again just like Bush. They will expand govt, borrow more money, expand healthcare (something you will enjoy whatmoney ;) and after all their liberal ways the liberals still won't like them.