Flexible spending accounts

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside pretax dollars to pay for eligible expenses. The IRS determines the expenses that are allowed to be paid through your FSA, called qualified expenses. There are two types of FSAs — healthcare and dependent care — and each is used to reimburse different types of expenses. If your employer offers either or both type of FSAs, enrollment is optional.

Healthcare FSA

A healthcare FSA is an account in which you accumulate funds, through pretax pay deductions, for certain medical, dental, vision, and other healthcare expenses not paid by any health plan.

Dependent care FSA

A dependent care FSA is an account where you accumulate funds, through pretax pay deductions, for certain child and elder care expenses while you work or go to school.

Contributions

You may contribute up to annual limits set by the IRS. Your contribution for the year is prorated and deducted in equal amounts each pay period.

How to enroll in an FSA

You may elect a healthcare and/or dependent care FSA, if offered by your employer, when you are first eligible and during Annual Enrollment in the fall. Elections do not automatically renew; you must enroll each year. Participation is effective upon enrollment. You may not enroll retroactively.