tax free, but only if you use it Preferred Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
This account can be used:

To pay for most health care expenses not covered by your insurance plan.
For regular, predictable health care expenses, such as vision care, that are not covered by your medical or dental plan.
To provide a significant tax advantage.
A spending account can save you money by using pre-tax dollars, but it requires careful planning. Keep in mind that money deducted from your pay and deposited in your Health FSA must be used during the year for the appropriate expenses. Money left in an account does not carry over to the next year, and it is not refundable to you at the end of the year. In other words, if you do not use it, you will lose it!


I have participated in the "FSA" for the past 2 years. It can come in extremely handy when encumbered with doctor visits, prescriptions, etc., etc. But, for what ever reason, I have been unable to budget these monies appropriately. Last year I did not elect enough of my paycheck to be siphoned into the FSA account. This year, trying to remedy my previous year debacle, I elected TOO much money. Now here we are, in the second half of the year, and my family hasn't gotten nearly sick enough to warrant the amount of green I'm hiding from the government. This wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for the fact that if the money does not get utilized for a health related item by the end of 2005, all of my hard earned, albeit tax free, cash gets earmarked for the next NASA project.

Those of you who know me are aware of the fact that I have what can only be described as "less than perfect" vision. For those of you who don't know me, let me illustrate for you by comparison to what "normal" vision is supposed to be: 20/20. Now, the cock bottles that are necessary to correct my vision to 20/20 are rated at 20/400. I am extremely near-sighted, almost legally blind. But not blind enough to warrant the use of seeing-eye dog. Which is a good thing, 'cause I wouldn't be able to see the poop to be able to properly clean up after the animal, and I certainly wouldn't want to do it by touch.

Now, if we combine a surplus of monies in an account that cannot be touched unless it is medically related WITH the need for corrective lenses, we have a match that might just solve this issue with me being able to see and the government not keeping my hidden treasure (or, as I like to refer to it: booty).

Enter: LASIK
LASIK is the most advanced procedure in correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. It is one of the most frequently utilized elective procedures and is also an eligible Flexible Spending Account expenditure.

Laser beams shone directly into my eyes to improve my quality of vision. What could possibly go wrong?
Tuesday morning I have an appointment with an accredited laser surgeon to determine whether or not I am a candidate for the LASIK procedure.

So wish me luck and keep your eyes crossed. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Well, if I can still see the keys to type, that is. Otherwise, I'll have to dictate, and nobody likes a dictator.  ¶ 12:36 PM