Sorry, I made one mistake (at least) in my description of MRA savings: I forgot that your social security and medicare taxes are also not charged against these expenses, so typical savings is much more like 40% not 25%. From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chip Orange Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 2:50 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] reminder for those using Medical Reimbursement accounts If you're using a medical reimbursement account (also called a flexible spending account), and you didn't spend all the money you set aside in the last calendar year, just a reminder that you are allowed to charge items purchased in the first part of this year (up to March 15th I believe) to last year's account, allowing you hopefully to use the rest of it. If you don't know about this option, for those employers who offer it, it allows you to charge medical/dental costs, and costs for blindness related items, to a special account which you load with automatic withdraws from your paycheck. This money isn't subject to income tax, so you can save 20 to 25% on each purchase. Even guide dog expenses are allowed. The state now gives you a debit card to use for these purchases, but you can also submit receipts and a claim form and you'll be reimbursed. You do have to wait for open enrolment (usually) before you can sign up, and you do have to name the amount you wish to be used this way (and you can't change it, and you don't get any back if you don't use it all, so it takes some thought to come up with the right amount). This year I set aside $2500 for myself and Allison (this also covers spouse's medical expenses), and mine is already used up in the first 6 weeks, so obviously I wasn't that good at estimating! Chip