A flexible spending account lets you use pretax money to pay for health or dependent care expenses. A flexible spending account, or FSA, is a tax-advantaged account offered by your employer that allows you to pay for medical expenses or dependent care. Depending on the extent of your health care or dependent care costs, an FSA can help you save a lot of money on taxes, particularly since the list of eligible expenses has expanded in recent years. But if you contribute more than you spend, an FSA can backfire: Any unused funds may disappear if your employer doesn't roll them over.
You can use funds in your FSA to pay for certain medical and dental expenses for you, your spouse if you’re married, and your dependents. You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums. You can spend FSA funds on prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medicines with a doctor's prescription. Reimbursements for insulin are allowed without a prescription. FSAs may also be used to cover costs of medical equipment like crutches, supplies like bandages, and diagnostic devices like blood sugar test kits.