FSA
Summer is finally here! For many people, the arrival of summer means vacations, backyard barbeques, and lots of time spent in the great outdoors. With all the summer fun you’ll be having, you’re probably going to want to stock up on some essential products to help you look and feel your best this season.
It may surprise you to learn that many of these products are FSA-eligible. That means that you can use your Flexible Spending Account to pay for them tax-free!
Everyone knows that Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) save employees money on healthcare and dependent care expenses. But did you know that FSAs save employers money as well?
FSAs are one of the few benefits an employer can provide that often pays for itself—and then some! While there are expenses that will be incurred by the employer when using a third-party administrator for the FSA, there are also payroll tax savings that will offset some or all those expenses.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published Announcement 2021-7 which indicates Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes, may be reimbursed under a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA), or a Health Savings Account (HSA). These expenses are eligible for reimbursement if the primary reason for the purchase is to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Is your benefits administrator not living up to your standards? Are customer service let-downs and reimbursement problems giving you headaches? Are you worried about sticking it out until your next renewal? Well, worry no more! You don’t need to wait until your next renewal to find a better benefits administrator.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released Notice 2021-15 which supplements legislation that was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 pertaining to new, temporary options employers can implement to their Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs and Dependent Care FSAs).
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are one of the fastest-growing employee benefits-and for good reason! There's no other vehicle under the tax code that has the kind of preferential treatment that HSAs provide. Stacking HSAs with an HRA or FSA maximizes both employer and employee tax savings and gives employees more flexibility to pay for current healthcare needs and save for future needs.
President Donald Trump signed a new stimulus bill into law on December 27, 2020 which will provide direct payments to eligible individuals and loans to small businesses, among other things. Among those other things are temporary and optional changes that employers can implement to Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (Health FSAs and Dependent Care FSAs).
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Rev. Proc. 2020-45 on October 26th with 2021 inflation adjustments for various provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). Included in the announcement are maximum contribution limits for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and other employee benefit programs. A summary of some of the 2021 contribution limits has been provided below.
Technology has influenced employee behavior and changed expectations. They are no longer comparing good and services, but instead experiences. As a result, they are demanding innovation, engagement, and personalization across every aspect of thier lives, including healthcare.
As healthcare costs continue to rise, consumers are becoming increasingly responsible for out-of-pocket expenses, regardless of their health plan type. By pairing every health plan with a consumer-driven account, your clients will not only save money but also provide their employees with a better way to manage their healthcare spending.
Join Our Mailing List
Benefits Buzz RSS Feed
