Flexible Spending Account open enrollment begins Oct. 6

Sept. 2, 2008 - Starting a Flexible Spending Account to pay health care expenses or to pay for childcare or other dependent care expenses is a smart way to save money each year.

 How it works  State employees can establish two types of FSAs, one for healthrelated expenses and one for dependent-care expenses.

Because the money in an FSA is not subject to federal taxation, users make the funds, in effect, go 15-30 percent farther when used on eligible expenses such as prescriptions, day care, health care supplies, glasses, etc.

 Sign up ASAP!  Open enrollment for state employee FSAs occurs Oct. 6-Oct. 31 for calendar year 2009, one month earlier than last year. Even if currently enrolled, employees must re-enroll every year.

Employees are encouraged to enroll online at www.myfbmc.com. A paper enrollment form is included in the enrollment package mailed out the week of Sept. 29. All paper enrollment forms must be postmarked by Oct. 31 to be considered valid.

For a $20 annual fee, employees can also opt to use a special debit card for their eligible health care expenses. In order to receive the debit card, employees must elect the debit card option on their enrollment form.

Questions? Contact the FSA provider, Fringe Benefits Management Company, at 800-342- 8017 7 a.m.-10 p.m, M-F or go to www.myfbmc.com.

You can also call DAS Customer Service at 800-409-1205 or browse www.ohio.gov/employeebenefits