FSA

New Year, New Benefits

Welcome to 2023! The new year brings a renewed focus on losing weight, staying healthy, and becoming financially healthier. Across the country, millions of us have set goals of increasing our health and wealth. However, inflation, supply chain issues, continued mental health challenges, and more can make tackling these goals even harder than usual. Financial Health Resolutions Many Americans are examining their spending and saving habits. Fidelity Investment found that when asked about financial concerns,

Home » FSA » Page 2

What is an FSA or LPFSA?

Rising healthcare costs have people more actively managing their healthcare expenses. Many are doing so with the help of consumer-directed healthcare (CDH) resources like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Accounts (LPFSA). To increase employee utilization of these accounts, it’s important to provide education on FSA and LPFSA basics regularly throughout the year.Flexible Spending Account BasicsA standard FSA is a health benefits account to which participants contribute money deducted from their paychecks

Home » FSA » Page 2

Compliance Priorities for 2023

A new year is upon us, and with it, the end of many temporary, COVID-related regulatory and legislative provisions. Mercer’s U.S. Health Law and Policy team has selected the top healthcare compliance priorities for 2023. Below are highlights of 10 areas considered most likely to impact employee benefits plans. For more context and discussion, see the Mercer site and consult your qualified benefits counsel. Prescription Drugs In light of recent presidential directives, Congress and federal

Home » FSA » Page 2

New Year’s Resolutions and Mental Health

With the holidays upon us and a New Year approaching, many Americans are preparing to make resolutions regarding exercise, weight, smoking, and overall physical health, among others. Having survived many life changes over the last couple of years, many people are also looking specifically to enhance their mental health and well-being. Mental Health Resolutions In a recent Forbes poll, 45% of all respondents ranked achieving better mental health among their top resolutions. By age group, 50%

Home » FSA » Page 2
employee benefits

Benefit Accounts Address Economic Challenges

A recent article in Employee Benefits News outlined the three economic challenges to American workers: inflation, market volatility, and rising interest rates. Employers can use benefit accounts to help employees address these concerns. Challenge #1: Inflation The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 7.7% overall between October 2021 and October 2022. Increases occurred year over year (YOY) in every category the CPI measures, including fuel oil (68.5%), natural gas (20.0%), gasoline (17.5%), transportation services (15.2%), and

Home » FSA » Page 2

Employer-Sponsored Debit Cards Make Life Easier

In today’s fast-paced world, debit cards provide an efficient payment method for consumers everywhere. Providers can automatically track purchases, and the cardholder can easily view and manage activity online. Additionally, debit cards are accepted all over the world. For Third-Party Administrators (TPAs), account-linked debit cards can help control costs through more efficient benefits administration. Many TPA clients are savvy employers who incorporate them into their employee benefits offerings. This option allows companies to attract and

Home » FSA » Page 2

Whitepaper: Getting Creative in a Post-Pandemic Enrollment Season

Always an intense and stressful time for brokers, TPAs, and employers alike, enrollment season for the 2023 plan year promises to be even more so. As COVID-19 gradually transitions from pandemic to endemic, its impact on Americans cannot be denied. By mid-2022, more than 90 million had contracted COVID-19, with over a million confirmed deaths. How can we successfully address the past two years’ influence on our workplaces and workforce? It will take more than

Home » FSA » Page 2

Financial Benefits Continue to Gain in Importance

In Morgan Stanley’s second annual State of the Workplace Financial Benefits Study, 71% of employees said financial stress negatively affected their personal lives and work. More than four out of five (84%) believe employers should provide more tools to help them navigate economic challenges. Traditional Financial Benefits Employers have long offered financial tools like profit-sharing plans and 401Ks. Both offer some tax savings and enable a path toward a more comfortable retirement. However, they come with

Home » FSA » Page 2

Halloween Health and CDH Accounts

Halloween is a favorite time of year for some, from decorations to pumpkin carving to dressing up. However, it can also be a time of pumpkin carving cuts, bumps and bruises, sprains, and even broken bones from tripping over costumes. Let’s talk about staying safe, Halloween health, and your CDH accounts. Some of the reasons why Halloween is so scary Halloween is undoubtedly fun, but dangers are lurking and parents need to be vigilant. Children’s

Home » FSA » Page 2

FSA Contribution Limits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced updated annual contribution limits for FSAs. An FSA enables employees to allocate a certain amount of funds from their paycheck towards qualified expenses without incurring taxes on the money saved. Several types of FSAs exist, including Health FSAs, Limited Purpose FSAs, and Dependent Care FSAs.

Home » FSA » Page 2

9 Ways to Spend Down Your FSA Funds

Your FSA plan may have a provision that the balance forfeits to your employer if you don’t spend down all your funds by the end of the plan year. Other plans allow you to carry up to a certain amount of leftover funds to the next plan year. Don’t know which type of plan you have? Ask your HR or benefits administrator ~ and check out these 9 ways to use up any leftover FSA

Home » FSA » Page 2

What’s the Right Amount for my FSA?

With the popularity of flexible spending accounts on the rise, participants want to know, “What’s the right amount to put in my FSA?” Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are fast becoming one of the most popular employer-sponsored benefits in the United States. In their latest market review, the Aite-Novarica Group estimated 32.6 million FSA accounts in force in 2022. Why are FSAs popular? According to FSAFEDs.com, the official FSA website for federal employees, taking advantage of

Home » FSA » Page 2

Whitepaper: Changing Perceptions of Employee Benefits in a Post-Pandemic Workforce

There have been five additional pandemics recorded since the Spanish Flu infected 500 million people worldwide in 1918-1920. Even so, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus caught the world’s population off-guard. Americans in particular were unprepared for the immense impact that COVID-19 would have on their lives, their families, and their livelihoods. The pandemic caused dramatic changes to the American way of life. Many of these changes continue to have far-reaching effects on our living standards and some

Home » FSA » Page 2
Inflation Reduction Act

Inflation Reduction Act May Impact Employer-Sponsored Health Plans

President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law on August 16, 2022. Among other provisions, the IRA: Here’s how the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) expects the IRA to impact employer-sponsored group health plans. ACA Subsidies Extended to 2025 The American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARPA) expanded access to premium tax credits (PTCs) that subsidize the purchase of health insurance on the ACA marketplace. The IRA extends those subsidies through 2025. According

Home » FSA » Page 2

Help Avoid Travel Stress with FSA, HSA, and LSA Eligible Purchases

Experts predicted that travel would be hectic this summer and fall, and boy, they weren’t kidding. Whether vacationing or resuming business travel, you’ve had to deal with high gas prices and delayed, if not entirely canceled flights, among other stressful issues. Check out these FSA, HSA, and LSA eligible expenses that can help ease travel stress. 1. Pack Those Medications Do you have enough prescription medication with you to treat existing conditions if you get

Home » FSA » Page 2
+ More