Healthcare FSA
A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) provides important tax advantages that can help you pay healthcare expenses on a pre-tax basis. By anticipating your family\’s health care costs, you can lower your taxable income so you get to keep more of what you earn.
The Healthcare FSA is available only to those enrolled in the Anthem KeyCare 30 1000 or KeyCare 30 2000 medical plan. If you enroll in an HSA-eligible plan, you cannot enroll in the Healthcare FSA. If you are eligible for the Healthcare FSA, funds in the account must be used for qualified healthcare expenses.
The total amount you elect for the year is available to you at the beginning of the plan year, regardless of how much you have contributed via payroll deduction. The annual maximum contribution is $2,650 per calendar year.
You have 90 days after the plan year ends to submit claims for 2018. You may also rollover $500 from your 2018 balance for use in 2019. All other funds in the account will be forfeited Plan carefully so you do not lose money.
Resources
Dependent Care FSA
The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) lets employees use pre-tax dollars toward qualified dependent care such as caring for children under the age of 13 or caring for elders. Only expenses incurred to enable you to work qualify. Thus, if you are married and your spouse is not employed, you cannot use the account unless your spouse is a full-time student or disabled. You do not have to be enrolled in a medical plan to open and use a Dependent Care FSA.
Resources
The annual maximum amount you may contribute to the Dependent Care FSA is $5,000 (or $2,500 if married and filing separately) per calendar year.
The amount reimbursed to you under the Dependent Care FSA is limited to the amount you have contributed through payroll deductions at the time reimbursement is claimed. The individual receiving care must reside with you for expenses to qualify. Qualified dependent care expenses include:
- Preschool (but not kindergarten) tuition
- Daycare, babysitting, before-or-after school care for your child under age 13
- Adult daycare for a dependent over age 13 if they are physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
The same types of dependent care expenses that qualify for the Dependent Care FSA are eligible for a federal income tax credit but you cannot use both tax advantages for the same expenses. Consult a tax advisor to confirm which would be best for you. Carefully consider what your out-of-pocket daycare expenses will be as unused funds in a Dependent Care FSA are forfeited.
Commuter Parking and Parking Benefits
You can set aside up to $260 of your pre-tax income to pay monthly costs for:
- Transit passes
- Van pooling
- Parking
- Bicycle commuting
