It’s always a tough decision at benefit re-enrollment time to figure out how much money to put into your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for the next year. Put in too little and you miss out on pre-tax savings and convenience. Put in too much and you’ve just thrown money away.
If you have leftover FSA money, Diagnostic Imaging Services offers the following tips:
Elect the 3D mammography option
There are some health insurance plans that will cover the 3D portion of a screening mammogram at 100%, but many others do not. For women who want to have a screening mammogram before the end of the year and do not have a plan that covers 3D, use FSA monies to pay the $60 fee and choose to have what is called simply a superior mammogram.
Low Dose CT Lung Screen
Lung cancer screening uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) i.e. a CT scan with a low dose of radiation, to find lung nodules, some of which may be cancer. People who take part in screening can lower their chances of dying from lung cancer.
In general, lung cancer screening is not a single test but a process that must be done correctly under the direction of your doctor(s). Lung cancer screening is not appropriate for everybody.
Click here to learn more about the CT lung cancer screening at Diagnostic Imaging Services or speak with your physician regarding the appropriateness of this exam. For those with no insurance coverage, or in cases where private insurance has denied coverage, the fee for the exam is $99.
Coronary Calcium Scoring
This ultra-low dose Computed Tomography (CT) exam of the heart calculates your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) by measuring the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. Plaque or calcium build-up in the coronary arteries causes heart disease or can lead to a heart attack. The coronary calcium scan is a better predictor of coronary events than cholesterol screening or other risk factor assessments.
Diagnostic Imaging Services has a fee of $99 for an elective CT study.
DEXA Bone Density Exam
Bone density studies are often covered by insurance for women once they reach the age of 65. In the vast majority of other circumstances, health insurance will not cover this test unless it is proven medically necessary by the medical provider. However, women (and some men) elect to have this exam and pay the fee themselves in order to determine their overall bone health.
DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) is a means of measuring bone mineral density (BMD). Commonly used to diagnose osteoporosis and to assess an individual’s risk for developing fractures, DEXA is simple, quick and noninvasive. It’s also the most accurate method for diagnosing osteoporosis.
Diagnostic Imaging Services has a fee of $75 for an elective DEXA study.
Hysterosalpingogram
In many cases, a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is not covered by health insurance as it is determined to be elective for women who are experiencing difficulties in becoming pregnant. Hysterosalpingography can occasionally open blocked fallopian tubes to allow the patient to become pregnant afterwards.
Diagnostic Imaging Services has a fee of $750 for this type of HSG study.
To pay toward your insurance deductible
In today’s world of health insurance, deductibles are getting larger and larger. Some go into the $5,000 – $10,000 per year range, meaning no insurance payments commence until the deductible amount has been met. FSA monies are often eligible to be used to pay any deductible amount that is not covered by health insurance.
Diagnostic Imaging Services has an experience staff of financial services associates who will work to determine your insurance benefits and provide a good faith estimate of any amount you may owe. Use your FSA dollars to pay that expense.
We always recommend checking with your insurance benefits adviser or firm to determine if FSA money is eligible for use as payments for exams. In many cases, they are.
The year has flown by fast. Use it or lose it is the FSA mantra.