Use Your Health Savings Account to Buy Glasses Online

By Adam Zekmueller

This morning at work we had a presentation on health care plan options. With rate increases, our company is making us switch plans or pay out-of-pocket for the deductible on the existing plans. One of the options we are looking at is a high-deductible plan in combination with an HSA (Health Savings Account).

If you have not heard of a Health Savings Account, you will soon, as they are becoming increasingly popular. The concept for an HSA plan is two fold: a high-deductible health insurance plan is combined with a special tax-deductible savings account, called an HSA, or Health Savings Account. First, a high-deductible insurance plan means that the first $1000-$3000 (depending on the plan) of any medical service, often with the exception of annual physicals and other preventative care (which are covered with a small co-payment), is paid for entirely by the individual. The insurer does not begin paying until the deductible has been met, after which the insured individual is not required to pay anything.

But from where is an employee supposed to get this $1000-$3000 to meet deductible payments?

Enter the HSA. The IRS has set up these special accounts as such that all contributions are completely tax-free (as a "top-line" deduction, itemizing not required) and the money in the account can be used to fund any health-related expenses, including eyewear, vision, dental, acupuncture and other services typically not covered by your primary health provider. Because high-deductible health plans offer significant savings compared to traditional plans, your employer will possibly use part of the difference to fund your HSA, essentially putting money in your pocket!

Back to my company, the presentation on our health insurance options resulted in an interesting discussion. The company will be paying the premium on a high-deductible health plan and contributing $500 annually to my Health Savings Account. I'm young, healthy, and rarely see the Doctor, so this will essentially be $500 in my pocket to use on future medical expenses. Something particularly appealing about the HSA plan is that I could use my Health Savings Account to buy glasses online! This is a huge step away from the paradigm of the insurer paying ridiculous prices to the eye doctor for glasses. Because my employer has agreed to contribute $500/year into my HSA, for the first time ever, my glasses will cost me nothing out of pocket and the cost of eyeglasses will go towards my deductible! But I'll still have the incentive to go with the most cost-effective route (thereby using less from my account), so I'll buy my glasses online with the HSA debit card.

For the budget-conscious do-it-yourself type, the HSA really works out great. So, if you have a health savings account, use it to buy glasses online! It is a qualifying expense , so just save the receipt in your health expense file. Tax-free eyewear for under $100.

The author is a twenty-something Coloradan who works professionally in local government and blogs as a hobby. As a lifetime wearer of corrective lenses, the author is passionate about helping people from all walks of life afford quality eyewear at a reasonable price. His blog is online at GetBetterGlasses.com

Here is a list of qualifying expenses...

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Making the Decision to Have Laser Eye Surgery

By Matt Murren

As with any other surgical procedure, it is important to make sure that you have considered all of your options. While Laser eye surgery can help eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses, you may want to wait and see if new technologies emerge. You will also need to make sure that you have everything you need, including time, to recover from the procedure.

When compared to contact lenses and eyeglasses, Laser eye surgery is very expensive. At a cost of over $2000 per eye, you may not be able to afford it, let alone decide to try and finance it. On the other hand, if you really and truly consider it worthwhile, you may want to try saving some money up while you learn more about the procedure.

Although recovery time is fairly short for Laser eye surgery, you may still want to leave a little bit of extra time open. If you do a lot of reading at work, or rely on your eyes a great deal, the more rest time you allow yourself, the better. In addition, if complications arise, you may want to make sure that you have some blocks of time available in the weeks and months after the surgery.

While Laser eye surgery is fairly safe, you may have some problems afterward. As an example, infections may occur, as well as poor visual acuity. In each case, you may have to return to your eye surgeon one, or more times to resolve the problems. After the surgery, you will need to take antibiotics. You may also need to take pain medications. Before purchasing any medication, check with your doctor to make sure that it will not interfere with your post operative healing process.

Medical technology is experiencing a number of breakthroughs on all fronts. Not so long ago, Laser eye surgery was experimental and the cutting edge of technology. Today, Lasik eye surgery and many other methods have become routine, right along with laser surgery. Because this procedure causes permanent changes to your eyes, you may not be able to take advantage of newer, or better methods later on.

Finally, you will also need to consider the facility and the doctor that will be performing the surgery. Your regular eye doctor may be able to refer you to a facility. Or, if you have friends or associates that have gone for Laser Eye surgery, you can ask them about their experiences. If you are not comfortable with the facility or the doctor, do not hesitate to shop around. Laser eye surgery is like any other health issue. It is about your body and well being, and not what someone else tries to push you into.

Depending on how you feel about your personal appearance, Laser eye surgery may or may not be necessary. If you are able to competently manage contact lenses, or do not mind wearing glasses, you may not even want to consider this procedure. That said, as the price of laser eye surgery becomes more affordable, people are becoming more interested in utilizing it to correct eyesight problems.

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.lasik-surgery-advisor.com - Laser Eye Surgery

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Pick Fashion Sunglasses That Add Characters To Your Face

By Anyer Long

Never have there been so many fashion sunglasses styles and colors to choose from whether you are shopping for designer sunglasses, replica sunglasses, prescription sunglasses or sports sunglasses the choices are endless. Besides protecting your eyes from the sun's harmful rays, sunglasses, also play important roles in showing your personalities and adding complement to your wardrobe.

Take a clue from celebs and fashion types who know that the right pair of fashion sunglasses can add instant mystique, chic and polish to any look.

Styles

Fashion Sunglasses trends have taken their cue from runway and street fashion. Trendy tints span the rainbow, so look for a hue that flatters your coloring.Wraps. Extending past the eye to the temple, this style "wraps" around the face.

Shields. One-piece shields have a modern look and are often partially rimmed or rimless and come in a wide range of tints.

Aviators. Shaped like a teardrop, metal-rimmed aviators have enjoyed waves of trendiness since WWII when pilots favored this style.

Clip-ons. An easy way to convert prescription eyeglasses to sunwear, clip-on shades can attach with either clips or magnets.

Flatter Your Face.

In general, women should choose a pair of Fashion Ladies Sunglasses in a shape that is the opposite of your face shape.

Round faces look best in anything but round shades. Frames should make the face appear longer and thinner. In general, look for frames equal to or slightly wider than the broadest part of the face. Minimize the curves and add definition with soft, angular, rectangular styles or double brow styles. Higher temples will create a longer profile. Sunglasses with brow bars also pull the eye upward, making the face appear longer. A rounder face can carry off geometric shapes, ovals, wraps and shields.

Square face consists of a strong jawline, a broad forehead and wide cheekbones. Reduce the angles with soft, curvy styles that will give the face some definition such as cat-eye styles. The classic ovals also works well for this face shape.

More angular or thin faces look better in rounder frames; oval faces can carry off almost any style.

Purchasing sunglasses can be an exciting and overwhelming experience given the vast array of styles, designs and colors of sunglasses frames and lenses to choose from. With so many wonderful sunglasses to choose from, your sure to have at least a few pairs in your collection. When shopping for sunglasses it helps to know in advance what sunglasses frames look best on you. Whether you need there are sunglasses to complement every face shape, lifestyle and preference.

The sunglass size should be in proportion with the face size. This means that smaller sunglasses are best for smaller faces; larger sunglasses for larger faces. Happy shopping fashion sunglasses. Sourcingmap carries a large array of replica designer sunglasses.

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Can Everyone Have LASIK Surgery?

By Mikael Rieck

LASIK surgery is one of the most common vision correction procedures and it is an outpatient procedure, with the treatment itself taking only minutes. LASIK surgery is performed on approximately one million eyes every year in the world and it is no different than any other surgery, but its drawbacks may be a little different than others. Whatever some people might claim LASIK surgery have risks to it, but luckily they are few and far between.

Treatment with a Laser
Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is intended to eliminate or reduce dependency on eyeglasses or contacts. Laser eye surgery has become more and more popular as the decades progress but still Laser Eye Surgery is not for everyone. The surgery procedures like PRK and LASIK are excellent alternatives to glasses and contact lenses for patients suffering from myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.

A procedure like this can permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye with the help of a laser. Most patients do not report any problems after the laser surgery. There are a wide variety of different optical lasers used in this procedure but common for all of them is that the laser will remove some tissue from the cornea.

Who Should not Become LASIK Patients
Patients who have reached or are close to reaching the age of 40 should consider that their vision may be affected by conditions that cannot be treated with LASIK surgery, such as presbyopia. Patients with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications should not choose LASIK surgery because of the implication that it might give. If you’re pregnant or nursing you will fall out of the ideal candidate classification and better wait a little.

Patients stricken with a condition called keratoconus are ineligible for the procedure and so are patients who have high levels of refractive error. Both parties are at a slightly higher risk for post-surgical astigmatism.

Glasses
Glasses and contacts can be a hassle and especially for active people on the go. Glasses are often lost or broken and contacts can make eyes irritated if not taken care of properly. A LASIK eye surgery operation can correct your eyes once and for all and free you of glasses for life.

LASIK surgery is an extraordinary procedure that has helped thousands of people see better and is an exciting opportunity for anyone who suffers from vision problems. LASIK surgery is the preferred vision correction surgery these days, despite its high cost. This type of surgery is however generally not the best option for older patients suffering from age-related conditions. Often these conditions can’t be treated with the LASIK procedure.

Find out more about LASIK at http://www.mrieck.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mikael_Rieck