Flexible Spending Accounts(FSAs) provide you with an important tax advantage that can help you pay health care and dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. By anticipating your family’s health care and dependent care costs for the next plan year, you can actually lower your taxable income.

Essentially, the Internal Revenue Service set up FSAs as a means to provide a tax break to employees and their employers. As an employee, you agree to set aside a portion of your pre-tax salary in an account, and that money is deducted from your pa check over the course of the year. The amount you contribute to the FSA is not subject to the Social Security (FICA), federal, state, or local income taxes-effectively adjusting your annual taxable salary. The taxes you pay each paycheck and collectively each plan year can be reduced significantly, depending on your tax bracket. And, as a result of the personal tax savings you realize, your spendable income will increase.

The example below illustrates how a flexible spending account can save you money.

Bob and Jane’s combined gross income is $30,000. They have two children and file their income taxes jointly. Since Bob and Jane expect to spend $2,000 in adult orthodontia and $3,300 for daycare next plan year, they decide to direct a total of $5,300 into their FSAs.

Without

FSAs /

With

FSAs
Gross Income: / $30,000 / 30,000
FSA contributions / 0 / -5,300
Gross income: / 30,000 / 24,700
Estimated taxes:
Federal / -2,550 / -1,755**
State / -900** / -741**
FICA / -2,295 / -1,890
After-tax earnings / 24,255 / 20,314
Eligible out of pocket
Medical and dependent care expenses: / -5,300 / 0
Remaining spend able income: / $18,955 / $20,314
Spend able income increase / $1,359

*Assumes standard deductions and for exemptions.

**Varies, assume 3%

The example above is for illustrative purposes only. Every situation varies and we recommend that you consult a tax advisor for all tax advice.

The example is for illustrative purposes only. Every situation varies and we recommend that you consult a tax advisor for all tax advice.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Health Care Reimbursement FSA

The Health Care Reimbursement FSA lets you pay for certain IRS-approved medical care expenses not covered by your insurance plan with pre-tax dollars. For example, cash that you now spend on deductibles, co-payments, or other out of pocket medical expenses can instead be placed in the Health Care Reimbursement FSA pre-tax, to pay for these expenses. The annual maximum contribution to the Health Care Reimbursement FSA is $4,000.00.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible health care expenses for the Health Care Reimbursement FSA include more than just your deductible and co-payments. Generally, and medically necessary health care expense that you can deduct on your tax return is considered an eligible expense. Some examples include:

  • Hearing services, including hearing aids and batteries
  • Vision services, including contact lenses, contact lens solution, eye examinations, and eye glasses
  • Dental services and orthodontia
  • Chiropractic services
  • Acupuncture
  • Prescription contraceptives

For more information about eligible medical expenses, please refer to the attached list of example eligible expenses or refer to the IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses available at

Dependent Care FSA

The Dependent Care FSA lets you use pre-tax dollars towards qualified dependent care. The annual maximum amount you may contribute to the Dependent Care FSA is $5,000 (or $2,500 if married and filing separately) per calendar year.

If you elect to contribute to the Dependent Care FSA, you may be reimbursed for:

  • The Cost of child or adult dependent care
  • The cost for an individual to provider care either in or out of your house
  • Nursery Schools and preschools (excluding kindergarten)
Eligible Expenses

In order for dependent care services to be eligible, they must be for the care of a tax dependent child under age 13 who lives with you, or a tax dependent parent, spouse, or child who lives with you and is incapable of caring for himself or herself. The care must be needed so that you and your spouse (if applicable) can go to work. Care must be given during normal working hours-Saturday night babysitting does not qualify-and cannot b e provided by another of your dependents.

Is the FSA Program Right for Me?

Flexible Spending Accounts are beneficial for anyone who has out of pocket medical, dental, vision, hearing, or dependent care expenses beyond what his or her insurance plan covers.

It’s easy to determine if a FSA will save you money. At enrollment time, you will need to determine your annual election amount. Estimate the expenses that you know will occur during the year. These include out-of-pocket expenses for yourself and anyone claimed as a dependent on your taxes. If you had $100 or more in recurring or predictable expenses, the accounts can help you stretch your dollars.

How Do the Accounts Work?

If you decide to enroll in one or both of the accounts, your contributions are taken out of each paycheck-before taxes-in equal installments throughout the plan year. These dollars are then placed into your FSA. When you have an eligible health care or dependent care expense, you must submit a claim form along with an itemized receipt to be reimbursed from your account.

The Health Care Reimbursement FSA will reimburse you for the full amount of your annual election (less any reimbursement already received), at any time during the plan year, regardless of the amount actually in your account.

The dependent care FSA will only reimburse you for the amount that is in your account at the time you make a claim.

To calculate your potential savings when using an FSA, visit:

Your Health Care Reimbursement Flexible Spending Account lets you pay for medical care expenses not covered by your insurance plan with pre-tax dollars. The internal Revenue Service defines medical care expenses as amounts paid for the diagnosis, cure or treatment of a disease, and for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. The expenses must be primarily to alleviate a physical or mental defect or illness, and be adequeately substantiated by a medical practioner.

The products and services listed below are examples of medical expenses eligible for payment under your Health Care Reimbursement FSA, to the extent that such services are not covered by your medical and dental insurance plan. This list is NOT all-inclusive; additional expenses may qualify, and the items listed below are subject to change in accordance with the IRS regulations. Please refer to the IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses for a complete description of eligible medical and dental expenses

  • Acne Treatment
  • Acupuncture
  • Adoption-Pre-adoption medical expenses
  • Alcoholism treatment
  • Allergy medications
  • Ambulance
  • Artificial limbs and teeth
  • Bandages
  • Birth control pills
  • Blood pressure monitoring devices
  • Blood sugar test kit and test strips
  • Body scan
  • Braille books/magazines
  • Breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomy
  • Car modifications- if for physically handicapped
  • Carpal tunnel wrist supports
  • Contraceptives
  • Chondroitin
  • Circumcision
  • Co-insurance amounts and deductibles
  • Contact lenses-also materials& equipment
  • Cough suppressants
  • Decongestants
  • Dental treatment
  • Dentures and denture adhesives
  • Diabetic supplies
  • Diagnostic items/services
  • Disabled dependent care expenses
  • Drug addiction treatment
  • Drug overdose, treatment of
  • Prescription drugs
  • Over-the-counter drugs, with a prescription
  • Ear plugs-for medical purposes
  • Egg donor fees
  • Fluoridation device or services
  • Glucose monitoring equipment
  • Guide dog/other animal aid
  • Health Institute fees-only if prescribed by physician
  • Hearing aids
  • Hemorrhoid treatments
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Hospital services
  • Hot/cold packs
  • Inclinator
  • Insect bite creams and ointments
  • Insulin
  • Laboratory fees
  • Laser eye surgery/lasik
  • Lead-based paint removal
  • Learning disability, instructional fees
  • Lodging at a hospital or similar institution
  • Lodging not at a hospital or similar institution (up to $50/night)
  • Lodging of a companion-yes if accompanying a patient for medical reasons
  • Massage therapy-only if recommended by a physician to treat a specific trauma or injury
  • Meals at a hospital
  • Medic alert bracelet or necklace
  • Medical services
  • Menstrual pain relievers
  • Motion sickness pills
  • Nasal strips or sprays-only to treat sinus problems; not to prevent snoring
  • Nicotine gum or patches
  • Norplant insertion or removal
  • Nursing services provided by a nurse or attendant
  • Nutritional supplements-only if they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition
  • Obstetrical expenses
  • Occiusal guard to prevent teeth grinding
  • Optometrist
  • Organ donors/transplants
  • Orthodontia
  • Osteopath fees
  • Over the counter drugs with a written presccription
  • Ovulation monitor
  • Oxygen
  • Patterning exercise
  • Personal trainer fees
  • Physical exams
  • Physical therapy
  • Pregnancy test kits
  • Prescription glasses/sun/reading
  • Preventive care screenings
  • Prostheses
  • Psychiatric care
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychologist
  • Radial keratomy
  • Screening tests
  • Sinus medications
  • Sleep deprivation treatment
  • Smoking cessation programs
  • Special food required for diet by physician
  • Sterilization procedures
  • Prescription sunglasses
  • Sunburn cream/ointments
  • Surgery
  • Taxes on medical services and products
  • Toothache/teething pain relievers
  • Transplants
  • Transportation expenses for person to receive medical care.
  • Tuition for special needs program
  • Vaccines/Immunizations
  • Vasectomy
  • Veterinary fees-for the care of seeing, or hearing impaired animals
  • Viagra-if prescribed by a physician
  • Weight loss program/drugs-if prescribed by a physician
  • Wheelchair
  • Wig, if hair loss is due to illness