Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside before-tax dollars from your paycheck to pay for expenses not covered through your other benefits. When you put money into an FSA, you don't pay federal or Social Security (FICA) taxes on it. As a result, your taxable income is reduced and your taxes are lower.
The county offers two FSAs for all benefit-eligible employees:
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health care FSAs, which allow you to set aside before-tax dollars to pay for certain expenses not covered by your medical, dental and vision plans—for example, copays for office visits and the cost of orthodontia not fully paid by your dental plan; and
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dependent care FSAs, which allow you to set aside before-tax dollars to pay for eligible dependent day care expenses for your child, disabled spouse or dependent parent while you and your spouse work or look for work.
Plan benefits are funded through employee before-tax salary reduction contributions, as permitted by Internal Revenue Code Section 125. The county pays the administrative expenses of the plan to the extent those expenses aren't paid from the plan.
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