Last Updated On November 20th, 2018
Are baby monitors FSA eligible? First and foremost, it is important to define exactly what FSA eligible really means. This refers to a flexible spending account, something that you probably have through your insurance at work. Typically, it is the same thing that you can use to purchase eyeglasses or in some cases, get dental work done. Typically, you are allotted a certain amount of expenditures for one calendar year. If you don’t utilize the money that is in the flexible spending account, it is lost at the end of the year. Therefore, it is important to know what types of items that you might really need which are included in a flexible spending account. Otherwise, you might find yourself spending money out of your own pocket to purchase items that you could purchase through an FSA account. Worse yet, you could be spending your own money to purchase these items and then lose the money in the FSA account at the end of the year.
Determining Eligibility
So, are baby monitors eligible for this type of expenditure? Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to simply say yes or no across the board. Like most issues, a lot of it comes down to the type of insurance program that you have where you work and therefore, the type of FSA account that you have. Many insurance companies will accept baby monitors as an eligible purchase without question while others will require specific documentation in order to approve the purchase. In some extremely rare cases, you might find that the program you are part of does not allow you to purchase baby monitors through the FSA account, but that is not usually the case as long as you have the proper documentation.
Getting the Right Documentation
What types of documentation do you need? Typically, you will only need to prove that you have a need to purchase a baby monitor and then provide proof of purchase along with the cost of the item. If you have an insurance company that requires additional documentation, it is likely going to come in the form of having a document issued by your physician which states that you need the baby monitor in order to ensure the baby’s overall safety. That does not necessarily mean that there has to be some type of medical problem with the baby in order for it to be approved as an eligible expense. In reality, everyone needs to have a baby monitor in order to ensure the overall health and safety of their child. Therefore, having documentation from a physician is more like a formality than anything else but in the case of insurance companies that want to be a little more picky than others, this can be exactly what you need to ensure that the purchase is considered eligible and that there are no further problems associated with it.
Summary
If you are unsure about the eligibility of a baby monitor, don’t hesitate to look at the list of eligible items associated with your account. You should be provided with a list of items that are eligible and this will usually clear up any confusion that might exist. If you still have some concerns, contact the insurance company or the human resources representative at your company directly and inquire about the eligibility of the baby monitor that you are considering purchasing.