Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Definition

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. This account is often set up through an employer, who may also contribute to it. Money put into the account is deducted from your paycheck before taxes, making it a tax-advantaged account.

Phonetic

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is pronounced as: “Flex-uh-buhl Spend-ing Uh-count (Eff-Ess-Ay)”

Key Takeaways

1. Usage Limits: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) have usage limits including an annual limit on the amount you can contribute to the account. This limit is set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and can change each year.
2. Eligible Expenses: FSAs allow you to pay for eligible healthcare-related expenses with pre-tax dollars. This includes medical, dental, and vision expenses that are not covered by your health insurance, such as copayments, deductibles, and certain over-the-counter medications.
3. Use-It or Lose-It Rule: FSAs generally have a “use-it or lose-it” rule, which means that money left in the account at the end of the plan year cannot be carried over to the next year. However, some FSAs offer a grace period or a carryover option, allowing you to use or carry over a certain amount of unused funds to the next year.

Importance

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is significant in the realm of business and finance because it allows employees in the United States to set aside a portion of their earnings in a pre-tax account designated for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. This permission to divert income pre-tax leads to reduced overall taxable income, thereby potentially decreasing the amount of taxes an employee has to pay. Moreover, FSAs could provide substantial savings for those with predictable medical, dental or vision expenses that are not covered by regular health insurance. Understanding and properly utilizing an FSA can thus provide substantial financial advantages to employees.

Explanation

The main purpose of a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is to provide individuals with an avenue to save money on eligible health and dependent care expenses. This is achieved by setting aside pre-tax dollars from their earnings. FSAs are mainly offered by employers as a part of benefits packages. The accountholders can utilize these tax-free funds for incurring mandatory out-of-pocket healthcare costs like prescriptions, co-payments at doctor’s visits, eye exams, and certain over-the-counter medications, which are usually not covered by typical health insurance plans.Moreover, dependent care FSAs can be used to cover eligible care-related costs for a child under 13, a disabled spouse, or a senior parent. These may include after-school programs, babysitter fees, or adult day care. The fundamental advantage of an FSA is savings in taxes. The fund contributions are made before the taxes are deducted, thus decreasing the accountholders’ taxable income and increasing the percentage of their take-home pay. Additionally, the untaxed money can serve as a financial buffer against unexpected medical expenses. However, most FSAs have a “use it or lose it” policy, meaning any unused funds at the end of the year will be forfeited.

Examples

1. Healthcare Expenses: An employee in a large corporation opts for an FSA as part of his benefits package. This allows him to set aside pre-tax earnings for healthcare expenses not covered by his insurance, such as copayments, deductibles, dental services, eyeglasses, and over-the-counter medications. As this is pre-tax, he can save a substantial amount of money while covering his health costs.2. Childcare Costs: A single mom working full-time uses her FSA for dependent care. This account lets her set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for her child’s after-school care program. It helps her manage her income more efficiently by reducing her taxable income and making childcare more affordable.3. Commuting Costs: A city worker uses a limited FSA to pay for his daily commute. The FSA allows him to pay for his parking and transit costs with pre-tax dollars, which can lead to significant savings over the course of a year. This sort of FSA is especially valuable in cities where parking and commuting costs can be high.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Healthcare Expenses
• Dependent Care Expenses
• Pre-tax Deductions
• Reimbursement Rules
• Annual Contribution Limit

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• Healthcare.gov
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• Mayo Clinic