[tabi] Re: reminder for state workers
- From: "Mister Blackjack" <misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:58:41 -0400
I don't know it might be worth a try. Thanks for all the info.
Thanks,
Blackjack
misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Allison and Chip Orange
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:54 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: reminder for state workers
Hi Blackjack,
I doubt a pc, meant for the general public, could get by them. they require
some sort of advertisement or statement from the manufacturer or from the
device manual, that the item is made specifically to deal with a physical
disability or medical condition.
I've done this twice now, and just submitted a web page description of the
device which said it was meant for blind users, along with my receipt, and a
statement from my doctor that I am blind. officially there are more forms
to be filled out, but I don't think they made me submit anything else.
the system works by taking a standard amount from your paycheck each month
(say $100 a month if you chose $1200 for the year).
separate from that, any time it happens that you have an expense, you just
send them or fax them the receipt (and sometimes extra paperwork like I
mentioned above), and if approved, they'll send you a check in a few weeks
for that expense.
so, when I go to the dentist say, I'll fax them his receipt, and in a few
weeks, they'll send me a check for the amount of his bill.
this keeps happening until you hit the amount you specified for the year.
you can even spend your entire yearly amount in the first month, then you
spend the rest of the year paying them back.
the way you profit is that the money is deducted from your pay before taxes.
I've done this with 2 special devices so far: a victor and a cassette
player. and my normal medical expenses, say $4000 a year for both of us (I
don't know if you can claim your health insurance premium as an expense, but
you can claim dental, and everything else not covered by your health
insurance).
it's a good idea for most people, even without expensive assistive
technology. with it, it becomes a great idea.
hth,
Chip
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Mister Blackjack
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 7:36 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: reminder for state workers
Hi, would this include like a Apple PC since it has it own built in screen
reader? If so or for any other of these technologies, what kind of proof do
you need to get refunded from the medical account?
Thanks,
Blackjack
misterblackjack2@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Chip Orange
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 5:00 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] reminder for state workers
Hello all,
right now it's open enrollment time for state workers, which includes
specifying your next year's options such as medical reimbursement accounts.
if your employers doesn't offer you medical reimbursement accounts, you
should ask why not; these are quite valuable to you, and the reason for this
post.
one thing you can do with your medical reimbursement account, aside from the
obvious one of claiming medical expenses, is to claim expenses related to
being blind (some expenses anyway). these are counted by the IRS as medical
expenses, and include such items as *any* special technology for the blind
(a screen reader, a book reader, anything whose description says it's a
device specifically meant for the blind). expenses related to guide dogs,
their care and feeding and procurement, are also covered.
when an expense is covered, this means that you do not have to pay income
tax on that expense. it's just like getting a 25% discount!
the only thing is that you have to set up next year's account now, and plan
how much money to fund it with; and, if you don't use up that amount of
money, you cannot get it back; so you need to be sure you will have that
much in expenses.
however, if you know that you want to buy a $2000 device such as a note
taker, why not go ahead and plan for perhaps a $500 discount! that's right,
that's the amount someone in the 25% tax bracket would get back.
Of course, you can also add the amount for prescription medication, dental
work, OTC medications, glasses, etc.
hth,
Chip
------------------------------
Chip Orange
Database Administrator
Florida Public Service Commission
Chip.Orange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(850) 413-6314
(Any opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Florida Public Service Commission.)
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Check out the TABI resource web page at
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and please make suggestions for new material.
if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI
and please make suggestions for new material.
if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web
interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.
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