Flexible Spending Account

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Flexible Spending Account Can I use this to buy my gluten-free foods? Rate Topic:

#1 cymrudenver

Community Member

Group: Advanced Members
Posts: 38
Joined: 08-July 08

Posted 12 July 2008 - 06:20 AM

I can't find any information newer than 2004, do you know if things have changed? Can I use my FSA debit card to buy the grocerices directly?

Celiac Dx 6/16/08 with blood work done for chronic anemia.
Endoscopy & biopsy 6/25/08 - complete villious atrophy.
Vitamin D deficency - 50,000iu Vit D weekly started 8/4/08.
Iron Deficency Anemia - IV Iron infusions weekly started 8/7/08.
Osteopenia of spine 8/12/08 calcium supplements commenced.

DD aged 11yrs Celiac Dx 7/8/08, symptom free except for being short for age.

DS aged 4yrs Allergic to corn & oats but bloods & biopsies negative for Celiac 2/2007, GERD 5/2005, Cardiac surgery for retro-esophageal right sub-clavian artery 5/5/2005.

DD aged 2 yrs Bloods negative for Celiac.

Gluten Free life started 7/15/08

My Mum tested positive for celiac disease 7/25/08
My maternal great-grandfather died from "his stomach wearing away" he was a baker.

#2 janetw

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Posts: 948
Joined: 30-January 07

Posted 12 July 2008 - 06:29 AM

I think special food is discretionary meaning it is up to your company to decide whether it can be considered a medical expense. I doubt you would be able to buy the groceries with your FSA card though. Most likely you'd need to file for reimbursement and itemize. You should call your HR department and/or plan administrator and ask.

Janet

Celiac.com - Celiac Disease Board Moderator

#3 cruelshoes

We've heard nothing at all about the growing tomato menace..

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Posts: 1,058
Joined: 28-June 07

Posted 12 July 2008 - 06:30 AM

You can use it for the difference bestween the gluten and gluten-free version, but not the whole amount. So, if gluten pasta costs $1.00 and gluten-free pasta costs $3.00, you can claim $2 from your FSA. I don't know how FSA debit cards work (my plan does not offer that). I would think that the store would have to have the item flagged as FSA eligible for it to work. They would probably not be likely to do that since it is all just food to them.

http://www.celiac.com/articles/835/1/Flexi...enne/Page1.html

-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork and biopsy (total villous atrophy)
11-year old son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork and biopsy
Daughters (13 and 3) have tested negative via bloodwork

A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt

#4 Phyllis28

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Group: Advanced Members
Posts: 785
Joined: 16-December 06

Posted 13 July 2008 - 06:51 AM

I would suggest you contact the administrator of you FSA plan. I agree with Cruelshoes that the difference between the price of the gluten free version and a gluten version of a food should qualify for you FSA plan. The question for you plan administrator is how to document it. It maybe more trouble than it is worth.

My FSA credit card it is only good for prescriptions according to the documentation I received with it. I would suggest you double check any documentation you received with your FSA credit card or contact your plan administrator.

Phyllis

Gluten Free - 30 years