Newbie Here

**jazziejasmine** · 12-22-2011 08:44 AM

Hello, I'm new to this site and new to the whole experience of WLS. My friend just had her Vertical Sleeve surgery last week in Tijuana and now it makes me want mine more and more. It's amazing how many people I find have had the surgery with much success!

I'm still on the fence because, like most people, I'm worried about lasting effects, side effects, consequences and most of all - FINANCES!

I appreciate being a part of this forum and look forward to checking all the posts for more information.

**N2DVN** · 12-22-2011 09:27 AM

Welcome! You will find tons of info on here to help find answers to all of your questions.

Since this is the end of the year and many companies are busy doing their 2012 open enrollments for employee benefits, I have a question for you. Does your company offer a flexible spending account (FSA)? If so and you are going to need any money for co-pays or if you are self pay, you should really consider signing up for the FSA. It allows you to pay for the out of pocket expenses at one time and then "repay" the account over the year. (Really great option for us, especially if they offer a debit card for the account.) Also, it is all pre-tax, which comes in handy since you are not allowed to claim medical expenses on your income taxes until you have spent something like 7% of your income on them PLUS since it is pre-tax, if reduces your taxable income. Since the surgery is not cosmetic and is not illegal in both the US and MX, you can even use your account to pay for the procedure in MX.

Good Luck on your journey!

**jazziejasmine** · 12-22-2011 09:38 AM

I'll have to check with my personnel department about the FSA account. With a former company, I had to produce valid medical receipts to get reimbursed which would not work in this case as I'm considering going to Tijuana and paying out of pocket for the surgery. Thanks for the idea, I'll definately look into it!

**N2DVN** · 12-22-2011 09:59 AM

Actually, there is no legal reason why you cannot do it. . . sorry, I don't have my bookmark to the IRS site on this laptop. Basically, this is what I have found when researching it:

With a letter of medical necessity, you should be able to use it to pay for medical expenses outside the US, as long as it is not cosmetic and is a legal procedure in both countries. The doctors in MX can write you the letter or medical necessity, Almanza has already done that for me and I am pretty sure the others would do the same. If not, have your PCP write it and have it list which doctor you are using. Also, the TJ docs may use billing services in San Diego. Again, I know Almanza does but if you use someone else, you should check w/them.

There are several of us on here who are going this route. Good Luck!