FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-favored program that allows you to pay for your eligible out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

FSAFEDS offers three types of FSAs:

  • The Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) can be used to pay for qualified medical costs and health care expenses that are not paid by your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan or any other insurance, but cannot be used to pay for any type of insurance premiums. . The minimum you may elect each year is $250 and the maximum is $5,000.
  • The Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account (LEX HCFSA), is available only to employees who enroll in an FEHB High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or whose spouse in enrolled in a non-FEHB HDHP with an HSA. Eligible expenses are limited to dental and vision care services/products that meet the IRS definition of medical care. The minimum you may elect each year is $250 and the maximum is $5,000.
  • The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as childcare for children under age 13 or children who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care and, in some cases, eldercare, so that you - and your spouse, if you are married - can work, look for work, or attend school full-time. The minimum you may elect each year is $250 and the maximum is $5,000; however, your election for a DCFSA can only be $2,500 if you are married, but filing separately.

New Employees and rehires
New employees and rehires have 60 days from your entry on duty, or until October 1, to make an election to participate in the FSA. If you are hired on or after October 1 you are ineligible to participate in that plan year, but can elect during the open season for the following plan year.

Transferring employees
If you are contributing to FSA account when you transfer, your contributions will continue. It is your responsibility to check your Leave and Earnings Statements received for pay periods after the transfer effective date to ensure that your contributions have continued. If contributions are not withheld after your transfer, contact The Benefits Line immediately.

You can enroll in either the Health Care FSA or Dependent Care FSA at the FSA homepage at https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp.

If you have questions about the FSA program you can contact a Program Counselor at 1-877-372-3337. FSA program counselors are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. (Eastern Time), or by email at FSAFEDS@shps.net. For hearing impaired employees, the TTY/TDY number is 800-952-0450.