That language in Pub 502 is what gave me pause about reimbursing the full amount I paid right now from my HSA. The difficulty with my child's orthodontic work is that we really have no way of knowing what expenses are incurred on each visit to the orthodontist. We paid one price that includes the current treatment plan (and any adjustments to that plan along the way until we are finished).
That's why I'm wondering if the safest bet (although not my preference) would be to wait to withdraw the entire amount once my child has completed the entire orthodontic treatment plan (which could be a couple of years).
