Purchasing catheters with a FSA?

[detsgtdavis]

My understanding is the money rolls over to a Flex Insurance account. Kinda of like a reserve fund. I have been told by HR that there are plenty of funds in that account to support the program for a very long time.

[jj1987]

He lost. Lesson learned. Don't put any more into the FSA than you absolutely know you are going to spend.

I'll spend it. I just prefer to spend it on things I know I'll use, rather than a spare set of prescription sunglasses or contacts to keep around just in case I lose them.

Funny how it's ethical to buy something just to burn the money that you won't use, yet it's unethical to buy an item you know you will.

By the way, your earlier post about holding it in not being dangerous is false. I don't believe that diving wet is safe for the majority of cave dives, either, for redundant buoyancy reasons as well as being cold increasing risk of DCS.

Another cause of bladder infections, or UTI, is waiting too long to urinate. The bladder is a muscle that expands to keep urine in and contracts when the urine is released. Waiting too long from the time you first experience the need to urinate can cause the bladder to stretch beyond its capability. As time passes, the bladder muscle becomes significantly weaker. A weak bladder muscle may not be able to empty completely causing some urine to be left in the bladder. According to the National Kidney and Urological Information Clearinghouse, normal urine contains no bacteria. When urine is left in the bladder it is more likely to become infected with bacteria. This can enhance the possibility of developing a urinary tract infection or bladder infection.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/97...#ixzz1hOEcFDWI

[RN]

Not true. Urine is normally sterile unless an outside agent is introduced. That's what a catheter, tubing and pee valve do. Unless there is already an underlying infection, holding it in might be uncomfortable but should not increase the risk of UTI. And there's nothing to say you can't just pee in your drysuit. But if you do in order to avoid infection, I guess the cleaning bill should be deductible according to your logic.

You may want to do some research before posting.

[kwinter]

You may want to do some research before posting.

I should clarify that I'm talking about cystitis, or lower UTI rather than pyelonephritis. While it can be caused by urinary retention, that would be more of a chronic problem as in prostate enlargement that keeps the bladder from completely emptying. Not from just "holding it in" to avoid soiling your drysuit. I think I'm on pretty firm ground here.

[Me]

Get disposable contacts, you'll use them eventually. Technically, you should be changing them out weekly and when diving with them you should strictly follow that guideline.

[Skorpiov]

Yes. And it's the blue pill. You are obviously not partying with the right crowd

Maybe not having sex gives some people heartburn, hence the need for the purple pill.... Some of you could use it from the comments here.

WRT pushing your ethics on anything but cavediving here: its silly. I wont be asking any of your opinions on the afterlife (there is one), the existence of God (I know him), my personal taxes (Robbery), my sexual preferences/orientation (straight and abstinate), or opinions on extra-terrestrial life (not seen one yet).

JJ simply was asking if anyone knew the specifics of the code. Geez people.

My opinion: Loopholes are loopholes.. Smoke em if you got em.

The logic here amuses me to some degree.. I can use the funds on glasses, although I can pass a driving test without them, and only need them to read books. Hardly a medical excuse. Is that a loophole I should be derided for taking advantage off too?

[Jax]

Posting because I don't know the definition of eligible expenses and cannot find it. If you can find it, I'd love to read it.

My intent isn't to break the law, it's to understand it. Condoms are NOT a medical expense, yet everywhere I've read online, they're an approved use of funds. Do you consider buying condoms with the funds unethical? Sunscreen is approved, which can be used to/from the dive site, is it unethical to buy that? ****** is approved, is that unethical?

If other recreational items were not allowed, I wouldn't be asking about buying a recreational item with FSA account. However that isn't the case, hence the question.

Edit - "the purple pill" (starts with a Viag and ends with an ra) is what I said above that got censored, not profanity.

James - It really is straight forward. Tell your doctor the whole story, that P-valves' accessories let you stay hydrated and flushing your system, and in doing so relieves some chance of Urinary Tract Infections.

Ask him to write a prescription for OTC condom catheters for sport uses.

The fact it says OTC prevents requiring insurance to cover it.

The fact it is on an Rx form and for OTC means FSA will accept it as an expense.

Just like you can take Rx masks off of FSA accounts.

[Skorpiov]

Just like you can take Rx masks off of FSA accounts.

Ah, I hadnt thought of that... Reading guages is a chore sometimes. Thanks for the loophole! LOL

[Sludge]

and in doing so relieves some chance of Urinary Tract Infections.

Had you said, "relieves some chance of decompression illness," I'd buy that. But the fact that EVERY man I've ever known to get a UTI got it from a P-valve, I'd throw that out the window.

[Merlin Rhoda]

Had you said, "relieves some chance of decompression illness," I'd buy that. But the fact that EVERY man I've ever known to get a UTI got it from a P-valve, I'd throw that out the window.

+1 ... I've only heard of 3 male UTI's ... all attributed to cath usage. They also all sounded like truly miserable experiences.