More Flexible Spending

Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses are growing in popularity among federal employees, OPM reports. During this year's health benefits open season, 227,000 employees signed up for accounts in the FSAFEDS program, a 26 percent increase over last year. The employees can put up to $5,000 in the accounts on a pre-tax basis to pay for expenses not covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or other insurance, such as dental care, eyeware, prescription drug co-payments and over-the-counter medicines.