There are two kinds of accounts the FSA and the HSA. There is no requirement that the company provide these, they are another benefit.
The Flexible Savings Account is made available as a benefit by those companies that wish to do so. The downside of this type of account is that you have to use it up in the specific year, or you lose the money. So it is better to under estimate a bit than to over estimate your needs. And you must sign up before the year starts.
Depending on the employer and program, they may allow things not covered under your health insurance, such as chiropractic care. And changes now allow you to deduct over-the-counter health items like aspirin and vitamins. See your employer and the benefits programs to determine your eligibility.
The Health Savings Account is more long term. In order to use it, there are requirements related to large deductibles on the basic insurance provided by the employer. The big advantage to this account is that it does not have to be used within any specific calendar year, and as long as you use it for qualified medical expenses, there is no tax on it.
It is your savings. There is no retirement plan for people who work for themselves except what they plan themselves.
You are thinking of an MSA plan (Medical Savings Account) which is different than a PPO plan
Yes, you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for qualified medical expenses for a child, even if they are not covered under your insurance plan.
A small business can set up a Health Savings Account (HSA) by first offering a high-deductible health insurance plan to its employees. Once the insurance plan is in place, the business can then work with a financial institution to establish the HSA for employees to contribute pre-tax funds for medical expenses.
Coverdell Education Savings Plan!
A couples plan for insurance coverage can offer benefits such as cost savings, shared coverage for medical expenses, and the convenience of managing insurance together.
A 401k plan is some sort of savings program and it involves forms. You must fill out these forms in order to apply for a 401k plan. It is a government program.
529 college savings plan
If you switch from a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan, you can still keep your Health Savings Account (HSA). However, you can no longer contribute to the HSA while on the PPO plan. You can still use the funds in your HSA for eligible medical expenses.
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FERS is a retirement system that includes both a small defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. The Thrift Savings Plan is the defined contribution plan used in FERS.