Lawmakers Urge IRS to Allow Breastfeeding Supplies as a Medical Expense

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin was among more than 40 Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate who wrote to the IRS last week, urging the IRS to recognize breastfeeding supplies as a medical expense.  Currently, breastfeeding supplies are not considered a medical expense, so the cost of the supplies is neither deductible, nor eligible for reimbursement from a flex plan or HSA. 

In their letter to the IRS, lawmakers say that the "IRS is at odds with the growing body of medical evidence showing that breastfeeding has proven health benefits for both mothers and babies."

You can read the letter here, and a news article about it here.

Changes Coming to Flex Accounts

Those of you who take part in a flex plan or an HSA for reimbursement of medical expenses will want to take note: starting in 2011, you will no longer be able to claim reimbursements for purchases of non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines. You'll only be able to claim reimbursements for medicines purchased with a prescription. The only exception to this will be purchases of insulin.

This does not apply to "non-medicine" purchases relating to your health, such as crutches or bandages. You can still be reimbursed for those purchases.

This change affects flex plans, HSAs and Archer MSAs and goes into effect January 1, 2011. The change comes as part of the health-care reform bill passed earlier this year.