Health Care Reform is a topic that is sometimes difficult to wrap our minds around.  Partly because there seems to be new legislation introduced or explained every day and partly because the documents to explain the changes are 100's of pages long.  We have found that the best way to understand the changes and new rules is in little pieces.  One piece at a time is much easier to digest.One item that is hard to understand and hard to accept was the fact that over the counter medications could no longer be purchased using the tax free money from Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts.  New guidance released by the IRS now indicates that these items can be covered with these dollars; however you will have to follow some guidelines.

1. You must have a prescription from your physician for the medication;
2. The medication must be dispensed by a pharmacist;
3. The medication must receive an assigned prescription number;
4. You must keep record of the purchase

 Bottom line, you can use your FSA and HAS to continue to get your Tylenol, Sudafed, Claritin, etc.  The issue – you have to follow some red tape in order to get the tax free advantage.

 “Obstacles don’t have to stop you.  If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up.  Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan