Yep. “Flex Plans” and HSAs put way too much control in the hands of the consumer.
How is Katie going to deny healthcare to conservatives if you can use your own money to pay for it?
They tried to put lipstick on a pig,but did emphasis that it is because of obamacare.
Where I work you can still use for medical (I think) but is capped at $2500 a year due to Obamacare. It used to be be a lot higher. Not that most people would use that much,or afford to keep that much out of their pay, but I do 2K every year for dental...
I thought Obama said he wouldn't raise taxes on people making less than $250,000 - not one dime!
Yes, happened to our family too. Starting Jan 2014 our employer’s fund is cut to $250 instead of a much higher amount.
Who is it that said “you will be able to keep your existing health plan”? They left out the part “if you’re independently wealth or a government worker” ... or, “if your plan is still offered, which it won’t be”.
SandyLynn,
Are your HR people saying that you can not use your Flex Plan monies pay for the premiums of insurance purchased on the public exchanges?
That would be true. I am not aware of any changes that pervent you from using your flex plan dollars to reimburse copays or other out of pocket expenses. You just may not use the funds to pay for the premiums of insurance purchase on the exchange. I will clarify this with one of our consultants. I work in the biz.
The other limits are correct
$2500 per employee per plan max.
Over the counter items no longer eligible without a prescription except for diabetes supplies.
Can’t use Dependent Care dollars to pay for special needs education any more either.
Laws, rules vary by state.
Wife’s company shifted from Flex to HSA’s a year or so ago.
Now they are adjusting their contribution to the employee HSA (matched some like a 401K) so that they no longer will match ANY amount if the employee smokes.
And the match is now on a sliding scale based on height/weight charts etc.
It’s not like they were spending a lot matching but it irks here anyway.
Flex plans are MUCH better than HSA’s. You need all kinds of forms when filing taxes (have an HSA? Can’t use the EZ Form). Flex was just a simple Cafe style plan that was exempt from FIT and you could spend the money for ANY medical expense including the purchase of over the counter drugs - even stuff like aspirin, Tylenol, etc.