Orthodontic treatment is typically rendered over an extended period of time. Often, there is no direct relationship between payment and treatment. Some individuals pay for the entire treatment in full, while others make a monthly payment towards the total cost. In both cases, visits to the orthodontist may occur several times a month, or once every few months for adjustments. 

Polestar Benefits, Inc. allows reimbursement for pre-paid orthodontia expenses, up to the elected amount, regardless of the date of service. The payment must have been made during the Benefit Period. If there is coverage under any dental plan, payment from the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will be reduced by the amount paid by the dental coverage. Please note that orthodontia
differs from other dental procedures that require the actual service to be performed and paid for within the Benefit Period.

The employee and/or the employee’s eligible dependent(s) planning to begin or currently receiving orthodontia treatment are eligible for reimbursement. 

Initial Evaluation Fees

Orthodontia services initially performed, such as moldings,...

 
 
Yes, under a health care FSA, your travel to and from the doctor's office as well as any parking fees associated with your visit are reimbursable, provided you have a receipt that validates your visit.
 
 
When a new plan is setup, every employer receives an email with a bunch of documents they don't have much have time for. Hundreds of pages of jargon goes untouched and usually leaving setup issues to deal with in the future and inevitably creating a phone call to the broker or third party administrator to explain everything.

Our way to doing business is different and here is why!
 
 
An Employer or employee may contribute to a HSA using a cafeteria plan and the contributions are not subject to the statutory comparability rules. However, cafeteria plan nondiscrimination rules still apply. For example, contributions under a cafeteria plan to employee HSAs cannot be greater for higher-paid employees than they are for lower-paid employees. Contributions that favor lower-paid employees are not prohibited.
 
 
Don't miss out leaving election dollars in a cafeteria by knowing the difference between grace period and run out period.

A grace period is the # of days a member can still have a service after a plan year ends and be reimbursed.

Run out period is the # of days to turn in expenses for reimbursement. No new services are allowed.

Every plan is different, so check with your administrator.
 
 
The main benefits to a cafeteria plan is the pre-tax savings. This means money elected to be ran through on a pre-tax basis avoids paying federal and state taxes. This is most know to apply to premium only plans (for insurance products), flexible spending and dependent care plans...but there are others as well.