FSA Open Season Ending

The initial open season for the federal flexible spending account program ends Friday (June 27), only two weeks after the program formally started accepting enrollments and with many agencies still not having announced when they will make the benefits available and whether their employees will be charged fees for participating. Some agencies–CIA, Homeland Security, Interior, EPA, FBI, General Services Administration, Health and Human Services, Labor, National Finance Center, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Railroad Retirement Board, State, the Senate and the U.S. Tax Court–have said they will meet formal launch date of July 1. Employees of those agencies will have payroll deductions begin the second pay period of July, while they may submit claims for eligible expenses incurred after July 1. Defense (except for the Navy Sealift Command, which plans an August 1 start date), Energy, NASA, National Security Agency, the Executive Office of the President, the National Science Foundation and the Office of Management and Budget expect to be ready September 1. The status of other agencies is still to be announced; however, interested employees must enroll by Friday in order to participate this year, regardless of when their agency begins its program. Interested persons can enroll online at www.fsafeds.com or by calling (877) 372-3337.