Consumer driven healthcare has generally been about price transparency and patient empowerment. We've talked about various tax advantages inherent in "alternative benefit plans" like FSA's and HSA's. These advantages flow from an IRS document (213d) which delineate what's "kosher" for such reimbursements.
Obvious expenses include prescription med's, non-reimbursed office visits, even orthopedic hosiery. Obviously non-eligible expenses include hot tubs* and ski trips to Aspen.
But what about sex-change operations?
[ed: Hunh?]
Well, hip replacement surgery is okey-dokey, as is breast-reconstruction following a cancer-related mastectomy. Wouldn't it follow, then that gender-realignment procedures would be eligible for consideration?
Well, according to those neanderthals at the IRS, the answer is "no:"
But the IRS disallowed the deduction — ruling the procedure was cosmetic, not a medical necessity — in a potentially precedent-setting dispute now before the U.S. Tax Court."
And there it stands; the gentleman, er, lady in question has sued the IRS, seeking to have the substantial cost of the surgery made eligible for special tax treatment. The IRS maintains that this is elective, cosmetic surgery; the plaintiff argues that it's medically necessary.
Should make for some fascinating Court TV.
[*See comments for an update]
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