Flex spending accounts face hit in health overhaul

Associated Press ^ | 11/01/2009 | ERICA WERNER

[Rudolphus]

WASHINGTON – Those tax-free spending accounts that you and your co-workers use to help pay for dental work, insurance copayments or over-the-counter drugs face a hit under the health overhaul bills in Congress — unless a coalition that includes a powerful union, insurers and others can stop it.

[Rudolphus]

More fuel for the fire. They just can't handle "The People" making their own choices and keeping/spending their own money.

[2111USMC]

Amazing. The AP actually gets to the truth of the matter in the 5th paragraph:

Capping contributions to the accounts would raise more than $13 billion over 10 years to help pay for Democratic health care legislation because it would limit the amount of employees' income that is exempt from taxation.

[Mygirlsmom]

Whatever happened to “not one dime”?

[Mr. K]

instead of forcing you to give the money to a governmet agency to hold for you, then get it back IF you spend it on health care, with all the bureacracy and paperwork, why not just MAKE THE SAME MEDICAL EXPENSES DEDUCTIBLE???????

WHY DOES THE GOVERNMENT HAVE TO HOLD THE MONEY??

AND IF YOU DONT SPEND IT- YOU LOSE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[2111USMC]

It's all one big Marxist socialist plan to destroy this country.

We, the American people, have to stop this insanity.

[5by5]

FSAs have one other advantage bedsides the tax status. Many “mean, evil, profit-mongering” companies fund them 100% on the first day of the year.

That means if you’re setting aside money for braces or something, you can use the all money on the first day.