I blame Obama

I hope this comes across clearly. There is a new addendum to making claims on your insurance, specifically your FSA- flexible spending account. Even though it's your money being taken out of your paychecks into this account, it is pre-taxed money and I guess that's why they are putting a constraint on the claims. You now have to have a doctor's note or prescription if you want to claim anything from over the counter medicine to let's say. . . a breastpump.

I followed the rules. I submitted the paperwork and got a letter from my doctor saying that purchasing the breastpump was "medically necessary." That is what I was told to have the letter say. I got a letter in the mail back from Aetna saying that there has to be a written diagnosis in the letter. Mother of pearl. That is ridiculous. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get MY money back. ::take a breath, Courtney:: Okay, so I called and spoke with the rudest operator I could possibly conjure up. I asked him to steer me in the right direction of what Aetna wants to hear in a letter; what will satisfy them. He says the following, "the word you're looking for is natural. Why did you not naturally breastfeed your child??" Okay. So this statement is so wrong on so many levels. How dare you judge me or any woman on how she decides to go about this decision. Lucky for me, I was able to do both. Lucky for me, Emma was early and I can claim prematurity as the reason for needing a breastpump. But what if I wasn't lucky!! What if I was like thousands of women who have to make the choice to pump over naturally feeding their child?? What are they to do? This shouldn't even be a question. The fact that you want to pump and give your child breastmilk as opposed to formula is reason enough!! Forgive me for believing that breastmilk is better than formula and keeps your child healthier thus reducing my need to visit the doctor and claim a doctor's bill that in the long run saves Aetna some money. GEEZ, I'M SO SORRY!

We had to call my doctor's office again and the operator spoke with the claims secretary and when it was all over, I called my doctor's office back just to freaking apologize for the operator who was so rude. The secretary's response? "Yeah, I don't really care for him at all!" It's not just me! I was not reading too much in to it. It makes me so mad that this is not more simple. I'm not trying to claim money that isn't mine. I'm not trying to rip anyone off. I am trying to get back our own money.

Lesson learned. If you do not use your FSA money by the end of the year, which is your earned money, you lose it. We lose $1100 this year because we put more into it thinking Emma would be more expensive than she was. Silly us for trying to prepare. Where does my money go, you ask? Back to your place of business. Just kill me now.