Parenting and motherhood are some of the greatest joys in life, but it does require some financial planning! Thankfully, HSAs and FSAs exist to help parents offset the cost of medical expenses for their kids and themselves, and there is a long list of items and services that are eligible for every stage of childrearing. Check out all the eligible items in this post.
On March 26 the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released IRS Announcement 2021-7, which states that personal protective equipment such as masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes that are purchased “for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19” (COVID-19 PPE) are qualified medical expenses under Section 213(d) of the Code.
On March 11, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 was signed into law. As a result, temporary provisions have been announced that apply to COBRA, as well as Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs)—also known as Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Read on for a brief summary of these provisions.
The news of the COVID-19 vaccines has everyone crossing their fingers and hoping there may be an end in sight to the pandemic. That said, we still have to get through the winter months with the normal cold and flu season kicking into high gear. On the bright side, you can create a COVID-19 tool kit for your home using your tax-advantaged flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA)!
On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the White House signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a massive bill to fund the government that includes several provisions related to Cafeteria Plans, specifically flexible spending accounts (FSAs).
To cater to every learner, Optum Financial works to create content that serves a range of needs. To start the new year, we reviewed some of the most common learning styles and the benefits education resources we’ve created for each. Use these to brush up on your own knowledge or share with clients and members to give them a better understanding of the benefits available to them.
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many legislative changes that affected consumer-directed benefits and tax filings, keeping HR administrators and brokers on their toes. Whether employer, broker, or account holder, we’ve recapped nine key benefits legislation updates in 2020 that you should know, plus a checklist to keep handy as we near the end of the year—just in case you lost track or need a refresher.
What do benefits from health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) have to do with celebrating Thanksgiving? We look at an example of some of our favorite holiday traditions to see why you might give thanks for the tax-free benefits these accounts offer when you need them!
On October 26, 2020, the IRS made the official announcement on 2021 contribution limits for health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), commuter benefits, and adoption assistance. FSA and commuter benefit contribution limits remain unchanged from 2020, while adoption assistance is increasing.
Not everything is set in stone when employees select their health benefits during open enrollment. Employers and advisors, you’ll want to read our latest blog to help communicate the flexibility your employees have when it comes to certain life-changing events.