At Mighty Well, our goal is to make our products accessible to our community. That is why we accept Flexible Spending Account (FSA) dollars to purchase Mighty Well products! For those who have FSA/HSA benefits, you use it just as you would a credit card at checkout. If you’d rather use your regular credit card, you can email us for an itemized receipt to file a claim. Check with your family’s primary insurance holder to see if you have this benefit.

It is important to note that your insurance plan/provider determines reimbursements. While most Mighty Well products are eligible, your insurance provider has the final say in whether or not you will be reimbursed. Mighty Well does not have control over what insurance providers deem as eligible for reimbursement.

Below is a simple-to-understand guide on how to use FSA/ HSA funds before the end of the year:

You can save a lot of money on healthcare by using FSAs and HSAs accounts. Many people often need help knowing when and how to use these accounts once they’ve set them up. The good news is they can be used for a variety of out-of-pocket healthcare costs, such as:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) products like Mighty Well’s PICCPerfect^®, Self Care Case, Fluid Motion Backpack, and Masks
• Medical testing
• Copayments
• Deductibles
• Prescription drugs

Since it’s the end of the year, here’s a small reminder of what FSAs/HSAs are, who’s eligible, and how they help you save money.

HSA vs. FSA: What’s the difference?

HSA: Healthcare Savings Accounts

• This is a tax-advantaged account to be used only for healthcare expenses
• It can be rolled over in its entirety from year to year. Applicants must have a high-deductible health plan that covers at least $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for families
•  Enrollment in an HSA is done via an employer or private insurance
• You can contribute to a health savings account with pre-tax dollars, which reduces your taxable income

FSA: Flexible Spending Accounts 

• Similar to HSA, but less flexible
• This is only offered as an employee benefit, and it doesn’t come with you when you change jobs 
• The IRS has set a $3,650 maximum contribution to an individual FSA and a $7,300 maximum contribution to a family HSA for 2022
• This is the more common type of account
• Younger, healthier people tend to be more conservative about their FSA allotment than people with chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment

Do I Lose my FSAs Dollars At the End of Each Year?

Unfortunately, Yes. Different from HSAs, unused balances in FSA accounts don’t usually roll over into the following year. You will forfeit any unused funds unless offered a grace period or your employer’s FSA plan explicitly allows a rollover. Just know the IRS limits this rollover to $570. For this reason, it is essential to consider how you contribute to an FSA based on your estimated medical expenses.

What does an FSA/HSA cover exactly? 

There are subtle differences between individual plans for each FSA and HSA account. Frequent uses of the account are out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses, including deductibles, copays, and prescription medication. They also cover any number of OTC medicines, devices, and products, including several products from Mighty Well. Insurance premiums are not covered by FSA/HSA accounts.

Use your FSA or HSA card mightywell.com to take advantage of your benefits!

Living with illness and disability can be isolating. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be. Sign up below to be in the know on our latest product and content releases, exclusive offers, and community events.

The post The Ultimate Guide to FSA/HSA Spending Accounts appeared first on Mighty Well.

The air feels crisp and leaves rustle in the wind.  Store windows and neighborhood displays remind us that spooky season is here!  Seasonal changes and holidays give us the opportunity to slow down, take stock, and come to terms with what is to come.  Halloween is a chance to have fun in whimsical ways as the whole community opens their doors and ventures outside together.

As we prepare for this night of communal fun, here are some tips for keeping it safe and accessible for everyone in your community:

1. mask up

Many communities saw spikes in COVID after Halloween last year.  Getting out and having fun is so important for our wellbeing, especially as we prepare for winter.  But with the Delta variant active in many places, taking safety precautions now will help prevent another spike in the future. The good news is, we know how to stay safe!  Get outdoors for trick-or-treating and parties.  Stay socially distanced and masked if indoors.  If you’re offering candy to neighborhood kids, make hand sanitizer available and come up with a fun delivery system that keeps its distance, such as hanging candy pouches from a spider’s web or a decorating a six foot chute.

Find the right mask to fit your costume here!

2. sensory friendly 

When decorating your house for trick-or-treaters, you want it to feel fun, festive, and spooky.  But that doesn’t mean it can’t be inclusive!  Limit flashing lights so people prone to seizures can be safe.  To include people with Autism or other sensory issues, avoid loud noises and fog machines.  And whether you’re decorating a house or enjoying a seasonal latte, please remember that many folks — with sensory issues, allergies, migraines, etc. — are badly affected by strong spice smells.  If you enjoy them, great!  But make sure to allow space for others to move through the world without interacting with your scents. 

Check out more sensory friendly Halloween tips here.

3. thoughtful treats

While candy may be easy and the expected treat, it can also leave out people with allergies or other dietary restrictions.  Consider having a stock of treats free from common allergens like nuts and dairy.  You can also provide non-edible treats like glow sticks and other decorations.  Not only are these enjoyable for people with allergies or feeding tubes, but they add variety and help the festivities last longer!

If you do make your set-up an allergy-friendly stoop, leaving out a blue pumpkin decoration will let folks know!  

More on blue pumpkins here.

4. adaptive costumes

Each year, more costume retailers are coming up with adaptive options!  We love to see these innovations, with access for feeding tubes and strategic openings for easy dressing.  Wheelchair costumes are especially exciting, as they remind us how wonderful mobility devices can be!  You can find adaptive costumes at Target, Pottery Barn, HalloweenCostumes.com, or get inspiration for a DIY costume at magicwheelchair.org.

And while we’re on the topic of accessibility, consider setting up your treat station at the bottom of any steps or narrow paths to be inclusive of wheelchair users others with mobility issues.

Whatever the festivities look like for you and your family, we wish you a safe and spooky Halloween!

The post 4 Tips for a Safe and Accessible Halloween appeared first on Mighty Well.

PICC lines, and the treatments they make possible, can be the turning point for patients.  Starting out with your first PICC line, however, can be nerve-wracking.  Patients need to grapple with a slew of emotions, acceptance that a visible medical device is necessary, and the anxiety that often accompanies new procedures.  Providers can make a world of difference by helping patients feel confident going into the procedure.  We’ve chatted with patients and providers about what information is the most helpful before procedure day:

Logistics

As mundane as it may seem, knowing the simple details about where to go, what it will look like, and what to wear can go a long way.  Let the patient know ahead of time where the appointment will take place, any tips for not getting lost, and people or equipment they might encounter once they get there.  Estimate how long the actual procedure will take (roughly 20 minutes), as well as how long they should expect to be in the hospital in total (likely an hour).  Remind them to wear comfortable clothes, especially a top they can easily maneuver with a fresh PICC line.  This will all help them feel grounded in familiar detail and feel prepared with specific action steps.

Details of the procedure itself

Nothing frightens us quite like the unknown.  If we can’t picture what a procedure will look like, our brains will fill the gaps with much scarier versions.  Walk through what happens step-by-step, dispelling any unnerving myths.  For example, make it clear that no needles will remain in their arm and that the catheter is thin and very flexible.  Any visuals you can offer, such as diagrams, 3D models, or even a sample of the tube itself, will make the expectations more realistic and tangible, and therefore less scary.

Will it hurt?

The number one worry patients have is pain.  Be sure to let them know their arm will be numbed (by a very thin needle) and that it is up to them to communicate if they feel pain at any point.  Many patients, in the moment, will feel uncomfortable speaking up if something hurts or feels scary.  Asking them directly to provide this helpful feedback will empower them to feel more in control of the situation, and may decrease their likelihood of pushing through unnecessary pain.

Next steps

Patients also want to know what to expect after leaving the hospital.  Any examples of what they may experience — soreness, swelling, potential complications — as well as what to do in each case, will allow them to feel able to handle whatever comes next.  Make sure they know the plan for going home: when their first nurse visit should take place, what they should and shouldn’t do while the arm heals, etc.  It can be helpful, as well, to share some specific details.  For example, let them know that it may take some time to find the right dressing products, and that they should speak up if itching or other discomfort occurs.  Let them know about different PICC line cover options as well, so that they have time to purchase products ahead of time.

If your patients have used Mighty Well’s PICCPerfectⓇ PICC line covers, you know the benefits — they are antimicrobial, prevent irritation, keep everything in place, and reduce unnecessary dressing changes.

Interested in learning more about the PICCPerfect® Pro Garment-based Secondary Catheter Securement?  Reach out here and we’ll be in touch!

Armed with the right information, specific next steps, and the best gear for comfort and protection, patients can go into a PICC placement feeling ready and confident!

The post What Patients Want to Know About Their PICC Line appeared first on Mighty Well.