Rx Bed?

plr66 wrote:I wonder if anyone here has tried or been successful in getting a special bed (Tempurpedic, Sleep Number, etc) prescribed by an MD. I have an unexpectedly large, unspent flex fund amount that I need to use by the end of the year, and I really don't have any need for any other equipment.

I have no special bed and I never thought if insurance would pay for it.. I doubt it though. They may pay for a hospital bed. Although I do not know if that would help you very much. I have considered the sleep number bed but have not got one yet.

I also contribute to and use a flexible spending account for medical expenses. On the years when I've had money left over I've purchased new glasses (extra pair), get lots of massages (you no longer need an rx for your doc for this), buy up all my OTC medical supplies (Advil, contact lens solution, bandaids, cold meds, vitamins, etc). My employer switched vendors and now we have a flexible spending debit card so there is no waiting for claims to process. I even paid for my Pur-Sleep aromatherapy stuff from cpap.com with the card and it was accepted.

The unused money goes back to the administrator and divided equally to all the participants in the program. I usually get between $30 and $40 back every year. I NEVER leave money in my account.

Have no clue about how the bed would be handled. Interesting question. Please let us know what you find out. I need to replace my bed in the next year or two and would be willing to try the same.

You might want to contact the administrator of your account, they are the "gatekeepers" and they will tell you if they will give you grief or not. In many ways, FSA administrators are like insurance companies, and in many cases, they are insurance companies. I am sure that there wouldn't be any problem with eligibility if you were prescribed a hospital type bed.

I dunno about a tempurpedic but our hospitals sleep center uses those dial your number beds that are just like hospital beds, the head and feet raise up and down. Now if you had severe GERD or Circulation problems in your legs or something that the doctor could say you had a need for it..
MAYBE. But yea I'd think it would be best to consult on that before going to far.

sleeplessinaz wrote:
If you put enough money away to buy a Tempurpedic bed--that is way too much money---LOL!
Carrie

Yeah--No joke! I was anticipating a surgery I didn't have to have, so it's a big amount left in there. Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions. Had never thought of some of those ideas. I have all the cpap equipment I will ever need for the next many years, since I don't believe in replacement just because "it's allowed." I'll call the flex fund people tomorrow to see what they say. Actually, I'm not even sure a Tempurpedic is what I would want since I am guessing that it would feel hotter in summer than a regular mattress, and I am hot-natured.