FSAs
The U.S. Department of Treasury recently issued guidance announcing a significant change relating to Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) that has many positive implications. The Department of Treasury has modified its “use-it-or-lose-it” provision to allow a limited rollover of unused Healthcare FSA funds. Effective immediately, employers that offer a Healthcare FSA program without a grace period have the option of allowing employees to rollover up to $500 of unused funds at the end of the 2013 plan year.
Recent guidance helped clarify some of the confusion about Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees applicable to Health Reimbursement
Arrangements (HRAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). It was originally thought that the fee would be applicable to all covered lives including spouses and dependents. That is no longer the case in some instances.
In their own words, politicians on either side of the fence agree that the middle-class is hurting.
“Middle-income families are being crushed.” – Mitt Romney
“The Middle Class has been buried.” – Joe Biden
A hot topic during the 2012 presidential election has been health care reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). American workers are paying more out of their pocket for health care expenses than ever before. No matter which party line you side on – everyone seems to agree that the financial burden carried by the middle class is disproportionate in one way or another.