Abigail / Florida

I never realized the value of my FSA benefit until last year when I needed it the most. When I was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in May, I had two surgeries. If I had to pay out-of-pocket for the insurance deductible, I wouldn't have been able to have the surgeries right away and the cancer could have spread. My FSA Plan may have quite literally saved my life.

With the new benefit year, I need to meet my health insurance deductible again, which is $1,000. If I have a recurrence of the cancer before I meet that, I can rest assured that I will be able to pay for treatment right away.

I have two other chronic health conditions for which I need to purchase medication regularly. I don't always have the cash on hand and even though I have good health insurance, the co-payments add up. The FSA ensures that I will always have my medications on hand. Setting a credit limit at the beginning of the benefit year and contributing each pay period means I do not have to take a cut in my take-home pay because my FSA is paid for in pre-tax dollars. I can rest assured that if I have any more health issues this year, I'll be able to seek the treatments I need without worrying about whether I can pay for them or if my health will suffer as a result. Health insurance doesn't cover everything. For me, my FSA plan is essential.

Jane / Colorado

I am a single mother who has raised four children with limited help from their father. Over the years I have used my flexible spending money to pay for extensive counseling for my children and myself who are all victims of abuse.

In addition, I use it to pay for eye care (we all have glasses/contacts in our family), prescriptions and dental work as well as for two surgeries in our family in the last four years.  These add up to thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses every year which are significant, but not large enough to deduct.

My flexible spending plan has been a lifesaver! It would cause me significant hardship to not be able to put my customary $4,800 in the plan every year. I don’t make $250,000 a year; I’m a middle-class, hard-working, single mother of four.  If FSA are cut, my taxes go up. 

Antoinette / Ohio

I am a single working American. I have always supported myself but never been "wealthy". The FSA is one of the few ways for me to get a measure of tax relief. Putting a cap on it would result in an additional tax burden I cannot afford.

Over the past two years my employer has instituted several drastic measures to cut costs, including pay cuts, hours cuts and raises in my out-of-pocket costs for benefits. Without the funds available in my FSA, I would be unable to continue to pay for my prescription medication.  I also use several over-the-counter products. Sometimes these medicines are the only things enabling me to go to work. The ability to use FSA funds to pay for them helps keep me going to work every day and also keeps me from needing to use more costly prescription medications.

Sean / New York

My son Noah was born with a rare spinal condition called Chiari Malformation. He has already had two surgeries and numerous doctor visits before his second birthday. In addition there are 3 other children in the home with medical needs. The flexible spending account doesn't even cover all the expenses we incur as a family, but the tax break sure helps make it easier. I urge Congress to consider the people who have daily and urgent medical needs and the financial impact reforms can and will have on us.

Karen / California

With a cap on my FSA, I would not be able to pay for my husband’s medications, diabetic supplies, and the dental work which has so far saved me from wearing dentures at the age of 45 years.

Now my son has now taken on bad teeth and is looking at a long line of dental work. Living from paycheck to paycheck and being the only one in the family working, my FSA has helped me so much.

I am so thankful that I know I can pay for all of my husband's medications and able to keep my smile. I will continue to use the FSA plan because it allows my husband, who is on dialysis, to afford to see the specialist.

Rick / Utah

Several years ago I injured my back carrying too much weight. After a several years of chronic back pain, I went to a chiropractor who told me he can fix my problem. There is a procedure called spinal decompression which has helped many people fix this condition. A chiropractor who now focuses exclusively on this treatment told me it costs $9,000 and insurance won't cover it. They will cover surgery if I want to go that route but not the non-surgical way. With flexible spending, I can put up to $5,000 towards this treatment and save on my taxes. I actually think they should up the limits since many people have needs which exceed the $5,000 maximum.

Carla / Illinois

I have a deaf daughter. Unfortunately, hearing aids are not covered by my health insurance. With the flexible spending account, we are able to purchase hearing aids for her and pay for the follow up care she requires.

We have four daughters and the flexible spending account is the perfect option for us. If a limit is put on the account, it will not meet my family's needs. Important health care, medical equipment and tests would not be available to us anymore. We do not have the money readily available to hand over to health care providers for these services that are instrumental to our health.

Robert / North Carolina

When I was able to work, I was one of the middle class workers using the flex plan.  I recommended it to my fellow employees. No one used it as much as we should have because we didn’t want to lose any money due to withholding more than we needed but the plan offered our small employer a chance to give us a benefit that allowed us to better afford health care. It was hard to afford all the deductibles and noninsured medical costs without it. It is amazing that the government might take away something that helps people afford health care to raise money for another plan that is uncertain.

Amy / Arizona

Without my flexible spending account I wouldn't have been able to get the glasses that my family needs every year or get the dental work that needs to be done. The FSA card is my life saver when my child is sick and needs to see the doctor. Without my FSA care, my family would have to do without the medical and dental care and glasses we need.

If the government limits FSAs then it will be more of a struggle for me and my family. This benefit is not just for "rich people;" this is for people that can barely survive with every day needs. I couldn't imagine how I would pay for my families medical, dental and vision needs without it.

Cindi / Georgia

I am the sole bread winner in our family and in this economy I cannot even imagine not having the use of my FSA! Over the years, I have gradually increased my contributions so that I am now at the maximum amount allowed - $5,000. To now be faced with the possibility of that amount being cut in half or less is not feasible.

I am a diabetic; my husband has high blood pressure - we both have multiple medications on a monthly basis. It goes without saying that without an FSA there is no possible way we will be able to stay healthy. We have been able to survive the recession (barely) because my FSA has allowed us to continue our doctor visits and prescription refills without having a second thought to the expense.

Sharonnette / Illinois

I'll start by saying I'm certainly not one of the working middle class that averages $55,000 year. I'm lucky if I make $ $32,000 and I have three children to support. My FSA gives me some peace of mind knowing I have funds available to pay for prescriptions, primary care provider office visits, dental visits and those many specialty appointments.

I have many health problems including high blood pressure, periodontal disease, cerebral vascular disease (10 strokes at least), GERD, severe depression and anxiety attacks. In July, I found out I have periodontal disease. Because of the FSA, I was able to begin treatments immediately because my allocated funds were available.

I cannot truly predict my future health care needs. I go to the doctor more than your average patient and I see more doctors. The impact if FSA contribution limits are reduced to $2,500 would be horrific for me. That's asking me to have a savings or emergency fund for planned or unplanned medical emergencies - I'm going to be completely honest here - on the budget I have, if my job weren't taking the funds as they are now out of my check - I'd be in sad shape.

Cherie / Wisconsin

I would have a very difficult time paying for my dental coverage without my Flex Plan. Every year I put so much into my account so I can plan to spend it on dental needs. I do not have dental insurance. Every other year I also use it to buy a new pair of glasses. Just last year my glasses cost $600. I used my Flex Plan to buy me a new pair of glasses.

I also have many health concerns that I travel to my doctors office regularly. It is a 60 miles roundtrip. I can use my FSA to pay for some of the gas I need to get there, with this plan. My husband and I depend on my flexible spending account to make it easier paying for our medical expenses easier. Without them, we would have to think twice about seeing a doctor, optometrist or dentist and using prescription medications.

Lynn / Iowa

A couple of years ago, the amount I saved with my flex plan enabled me to put my son in braces. I otherwise wouldn't have been able to afford them as a single mom without child support. More recently, I've had a lot of health issues including breast cancer treatment (mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, etc.). The flex plan saved our financial picture.

I'm not talking about being able to put money into savings or a retirement account. The FSA helped me just stay afloat (we have nothing saved anymore). It has been a lifesaver to be able to pay for glasses, medications and copays with my flex plan master card, even when I have $50 left in the bank, an empty gas tank and an empty fridge.

We will continue to have medical issues into 2010, and won't be able to pay copays, deductibles, and other costs right at date of service. Many providers won't set up an affordable payment plan. The FSA enables me to spend MY money rather than credit cards or loans I can't get or afford to finance our health care. Without it we would have a difficult time getting care without waiting until we've saved enough.

Jenn / New York

Don't take Flex Spending away! That is how I manage optical expenses for myself and my son. It is not a benefit included in my employers benefit package. My son is nearly blind without daily use of Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) contact lenses, but insurance doesn't cover them. He has to wear them every night, so God forbid if one breaks or countless other things wrong; they are quite expensive. Between my son's CRT lenses and my glasses, plus tests and exams, it can easily cost us $1,000 per year just in optical. Half of what I put in my FSA is for optical alone!

Mary / California

Our medical insurance doesn't cover dental or vision. For our three teenagers, two have had to have braces costing $6,000 each and one needed a retainer that cost $400. Each family member's annual dental work is at least $500. I have had to have periodontal surgery costing $4,500. That is just dental.

Four out of five of us have contacts or glasses, requiring annual vision checks and adjustments. Our flex plan allowance of $7,500 per year doesn't cover all of this, but it is much better than if it were limited to $2,000 per year.

Shawn / Arizona

If the FSA becomes limited, it won't allow me to pay for my son's psych meds and visits to the therapist! This plan also pays for procedures that I can't afford out-of-pocket. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me as a single parent!

John / Virginia

I found out that my employer offered an FSA only two years ago. I signed up as soon as I could and to my surprise the FSA has been wonderful for both me and my family. I am married with two children under the age of eight and my wife is a stay-at-home mother, so money is usually pretty tight. My FSA allows me to set aside money specifically for medical expenses, which can sometimes be planned, but are mostly unplanned and unexpected. Currently, I don't have to worry about anyone in my family going to the doctor, because the money is already there and I don't have to "find" it or "pull" it from somewhere else (i.e. food, utilities, gas). I have used my FSA for medication (prescription and non-prescription), medical co-payments, medical co-insurance and for dental co-payments. My FSA has been a life saver for my family and I'm sure many other families as well.

Kirk / Washington

Like many Americans, my family lives from paycheck to paycheck. Last year we had an unexpected medical expense that our health insurer did not pay in the amount of $500 dollars. If not for our flexible spending account we would have been unable to pay this charge in a timely manner and it would have adversely affected our credit score. Not only should the program be continued, but the maximum allowable amount should be increased.

Sarah / North Carolina

My husband and I have a modest income and the FSA helps with our budget. We both take prescription drugs and wear glasses. Having a set amount deducted from my paycheck is a great benefit rather than trying to guess on costly out-of-pocket expenses. With the benefit our FSA offers just the two of us, I can see how this would really benefit a family with young children. I wish this had been available when my children were young. The tax incentive makes the paperwork involved worthwhile.

Kenny / Oregon

I'm 49 and have had a flexible spending account through two open enrollments. It is convenient, and the pre tax benefit is a blessing. I have had two surgeries in 2009 and the help paying co-pays is great as well. If the laws change it would most certainly have a big impact on mine and my family's health.

Sterling / Oklahoma

If I could not use a flexible spending account I would not have been able to pay for my dental work that was needed last year. My flex plan gave me the flexibility and opportunity to pay for the work without getting into further debt or having to use credit cards. It was a life saver!

Janet / Indiana

I have a $3,000 deductible on my health insurance plan. The premiums are lower. My prescriptions, even with co-pays and generics, were in the $200 per month range. I was hospitalized on an emergency basis in February & April with partial complex epilepsy diagnosis. I was glad that I had an FSA of $2,600 because the generic form of my medication was $641 per month. That money was available to me right up front and got me over until my deductible was satisfied. I work hard every day, but all this was unexpected. So, I'm glad I was able to use an FSA.

Kristina / Wisconsin

Having a flexible spending account with an unlimited cap is important to me because there are many medical co-pays and deductibles that I'm responsible for even with the medical plan offered through my employer. Having the flexible spending account has really helped me stay out of debt and prevented me from feeling the financial burden of medical expenses that the insurance carrier doesn't cover.

I think that there shouldn't be a cap on the amount that can be put into the flexible spending accounts because all carriers and people are different. No one uses the spending account the same way either so it's really unfair to make the cap the same for everyone. This change would greatly affect me and my family because the medical care would not occur if we couldn't afford it. This might mean that we would not have up-to-date exams and immunizations, which would put me, my family and others at risk.

Kevin / Arizona

After a year of medical issues, the flexible spending account has saved me so much money. Expenses I would have normally had to pay out of pocket (since my insurance didn't cover them) were paid for with pre-tax money. I barely see the money coming out of my check and I am buying what I would normally be paying for, but saving tons of money. Without this spending account, I would have gone without medical care that I truly needed. And the great thing about it is that all the money is available to me on day one of the new year. I hope the government realizes that we are using these funds and we need these funds above and beyond basic health insurance.

Theresa / North Carolina

I had never used a flex spending account before and really did not understand how it worked. Now that I have been using it, it's great!

I have a wisdom tooth that has needed to be removed for years. However, living paycheck to paycheck, I could never afford the several hundred dollars needed to cover my portion so I could not get it removed - until now. My flex account will allow me to remove the tooth with my part spread out and taken out of my paycheck! I'm ecstatic!

Lynette / Texas

I was able to get the colonoscopy that I needed only because we have FSA through my full-time employer. Medical rates have increased so much that employers like mine have had no choice but to choose group health plans with very high deductibles, which makes it very hard for the regular working person to take care of any medical issues outside of a doctor's office visit. Thank God for FSA!

Cyndi / Tennessee

This is a very important plan my husband and I just could not make it through the year without. We both have chronic illnesses. Without our FSA we could not have really afforded to get our medicines and see the doctors as we have this year.

Linda / Maine

Four years ago, at age 58, I was diagnosed with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. My flexible spending account is a vital to managing the cost of the prescriptions and lab work necessary to manage my disease. Without prescription coverage and my flexible spending account, my prescriptions alone would cost me $24,000 a year. Who could afford that out-of-pocket prescription cost? My quality of life would disappear. I would soon be disabled and unemployed. I have $3,000 annually in my FSA. I spend all of it and also save over $600 in taxes. FSA's are an important employee benefit for people like me with a life-long potentially disabling illness.

Tami / Indiana

With four children, two which have had severe infantile reflux, we rely on our health care to pay for unexpected expenses and medication copays. We live paycheck to paycheck, so unexpected medical expenses are not easy to accommodate. Knowing we have the money there in a flex plan is a huge relief. We would rather lose money through the flex plan (if not used) then come into a crunch to pay for some medical expenses.

Jack / New Jersey

Restricting the use of an FSA-- already inadequate for me, with a child on the autism spectrum-- would have a devastating economic impact on my family. My son's mental health and pharmaceutical needs exceed $12,000 per year. Such a change as has been proposed would hurt those who need medical care the most.

Terri / Texas

Our family has utilized the benefits of flexible spending accounts for years...including both medical and dependent care. The medical account was especially beneficial this year when our daughter (pictured) developed severe acid reflux. With the specialists, diagnostic testing, and medications we would have been in a world of hurt trying to pay out of pocket.

Sarah / Mississippi

I have always planned out the use of my flexible spending account. There were a few years, when I was in my twenties, that I had knee surgery. I received estimates of my portion of the cost and factored that into my FSA amount for the year. If it hadn't been for the FSA, I never would have been able to afford to have my knees repaired.

Currently, I use my FSA for my monthly medications and office copays. It doesn't matter whether or not I have the money for those, I use my FSA debit card. With my card, the fact that I do not have any money will not negatively impact my ability to receive my needed prescriptions or visit my doctor.

TaTanisha / Wisconsin

If it were not for flex spending accounts I would be in more debt because unexpected expenses such as ER visits and expensive prescriptions are just not budgeted for and you cannot afford to come up with the money right away. I am planning to use my account to help pay for my child's orthodontics which otherwise I could not afford to do. Flex accounts have saved me from more hardship during these tough times.

April / Nebraska

My husband has high blood pressure and the type of medicine he takes is not offered in generic form. If it wasn't for our flex spending account, we would not be able to afford this extremely expensive prescription.

Dawn / Florida

I am a single mother of three. Living paycheck to paycheck is normal for me. My FSA has helped me tremendously in the past and continues to do so. In January of 2009, my nine year old son sustained second degree burns on his entire left thigh. I had no money to take him to the doctor, but I had my FSA. Thank God for it! It helped me when I needed it.

Rich / Texas

My employer's plan has no orthodontia benefit for adults. When I learned two years ago that I needed braces, I was not overly concerned. I knew my employer had an FSA.

My FSA paid for my braces in two large installments over two plan years on a tax-free basis. Because of the Uniform Coverage Rule, I was able to pay for it in much smaller amounts from each paycheck. This worked great!

Brindi / Arizona

My husband and I have relied heavily upon our flexible spending account to cover expenses for vision, some major dental work, as well as to pay for doctor's visits, an MRI, and x-rays when my husband fractured his leg this year. We never have to worry about a major medical emergency because we know that our FSA is there to cover unforeseen medical expenses, as well as everyday items like prescriptions, cold medicine and sunscreen. Medical costs are soaring, so the FSA is the perfect answer for families struggling to cover medical expenses in tough economic times.

Chris / Michigan

There is no doubt about the importance of FSAs to me, my family and the employees at our company. Many times throughout the year unexpected medical expenses come up and the FSA has saved us time and time again. Plus, with health care costs going through the roof, our company was forced to change health care plans this past year, and unfortunately, that meant significantly higher deductibles. The FSA has helped us out tremendously with these crazy high deductibles.

I also know, being the HR Manager at our company, that many employees depend on FSA accounts to get the multiple, extremely high priced drugs that they need. Lowering the cap on FSAs is a horrible idea, a detriment to many middle income families. The thought of eliminating them altogether, is an even worse idea.

Elijah / District of Columbia

Eighteen months ago, my dentist noticed bone and tooth loss occurring in my upper jaw and it became clear that the repair process was going to be lengthy and costly. Since my dental plan was good, but not unlimited, I loaded up my FSA with the maximum amount, and am really glad I did!

Over the course of the first year, I needed more than $3,000 dollars above and beyond what the dental plan covered. I was able to pull all that from my pretax earnings with no penalty thanks to my FSA. This year, since the tooth saga is still ongoing. I put another $2,000 into the account to cover the rest of my out-of-pocket dental expenses. It is looking like it will work out just about right.

Having an FSA available to me has been great so far, and I feel that having it as an option is incredibly valuable - both for financial reasons (I estimate I will have saved close to $2,000 in taxes by the end of this year) and in peace of mind.

Lynnette / Maryland

My story is much like many other women in this country. I am single and have a child who is attending college. I am paying all the household bills on my own and barely have enough to make it from paycheck to paycheck. I have nothing left to put into savings. I rely on my FSA to pay for unexpected medical, dental and vision expenses. Without my FSA I would struggle to pay for my eyeglasses and prescription drugs and even the copays for doctor visits.

Gloria / Nebraska

I like the security of having money set aside for my out-of-pocket health costs. Every year I try to predict those costs, but something unexpected always happens. If I didn't have that money when I needed it, I would probably forgo needed health care or be worried sick about bills I can't pay.

I also enjoy the benefit of lower state federal taxes. Flex plans are a great benefit from my employer, one I don't want to do without.

Michelle / Wisconsin

Restrictions on FSAs would be detrimental for our family. We have four kids and use our flex spending account to help offset many of the medical, dental, and over-the-counter costs. If there was a limit on this we may not be able to afford the prescriptions and over-the-counter medications my family needs.

Our insurance plan also does not cover orthodics and after my son split his finger in half we had to have him splinted. Having the FSA saved our family from having to charge money and have debt. FSA are one of the few benefits available to the middle class that is utilized properly and effectively. It is my hope that there are not limitations, restrictions, or even the disposal of this program. It would change our financial situation.

Mary / Missouri

My child has ADHD and anxiety and is on medication daily as well as being sick very often with ear infections, sinus infections and other medical issues. I also take medication on a daily basis.

Medication and medical bills are extremely costly for my family. I love the FSA because it gives me the advantage to have the money up front as needed to take care of these things for my family.

Monica/ Florida

Having a flexible spending account is crucial for me and my child. I am a single mother who works full time. I live pay check to paycheck. I have little if any funds left over for any type of emergency or illness.

My son has asthma and eczema. His monthly prescription costs and monthly doctors appointments are extremely expensive. With the FSA, I am able to pay for these expenses with ease. If it weren't for the FSA I would not be able to provide my child with his medicines.

Anne / California

My FSA account enables me to pay for a monthly visit to a holistic healthcare provider—a clinical kinesiologist/chiropractor—who is not covered by my medical plan. She keeps my body functioning well through treatment and related, prescribed supplements (alternatives to prescription medications which my plan may cover partially). It also enables me annually to replace the customized night guard I use to control the symptoms of TMJ and to prevent further damage to my jaw and teeth. This is not a covered option under either my medical or dental plans.

From my perspective, preventive care I pay for with my FSA makes much more sense than letting symptoms develop into medical conditions, requiring treatment and prescription medications that might be covered under my healthcare plans. My FSA also helps me pay for the $500 deductible I have on my medical plan.

Rolanda / Kentucky

My insurance will not cover some of our heart medicine and stomach medicines which cost more than 400 dollars a month. My flex pay helps me with this. My husband's heart medicine means life or death.

We do not have eye doctor insurance or dental insurance. This flex pay allows us to go the dentist and to the eye doctor to get the glasses and fix teeth. Without a Flex plan, I have nothing; my income is limited like everyone else. Our livelihood and health depend on this.

Jill / Idaho

FSAs have been critical to my family's financial welfare for many years. I have MS and require medication, doctor visit and lab tests. My husband requires blood pressure medication.

In 2007, my grandson was born with holes in his heart, chronic lung disease and multiple other health issues. I am able to include his medication, items like a nebulizer that weren't covered by other plans for my FSA. FSAs provide a medical budget for my family and we know we have money to cover most any medical issue "in the bank". FSAs are lifesavers for me and my family. They are an important safety net for our family.

Superina / New York

Flexible spending is the best thing to happen to my family. We use flexible spending for glasses for my husband, children and me. I have purchased braces in the past. I use it for prescriptions. My husband and I are on a lot of medication. We would not make it if we had to pay for it without flexible spending. This would impact my family tremendously.

Tannie/ Arkansas

Having a flexible spending account is very important to me and my family. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease last year.

Luckily, at that time we had some money saved in a savings account. We have health insurance through my husbands work, but there are still deductibles, copays and coinsurance costs. I have a deductible of $200 a year and a maximum out-of-pocket of $1,200. This is very low compared to a lot of health plans out there, but for us, $1,200 is a lot of money to come up with at one time!

We signed up for the flexible spending account through my husband's employer this past November during open enrollment; it has been a blessing in disguise! Due to my Crohn’s Disease, I have a lot of doctor's appointments, blood work, treatments every eight weeks (that are very expensive) and medications that I must take. With the Flexible Spending Account I do not have to worry about where the money will come from to pay for these things that I need in order to have a healthy, normal life!

Judy / Tennessee

I have used the FSA at work for several years. My husband has a brain tumor that requires lots of medicine and doctor visits. I use the FSA to pay the co-pay on our prescription drugs and the deductible on our health insurance. The FSA has helped me to control my debt by allowing me to have the money withheld each pay period so that I can use it when I need it.

Cami/ Louisiana

My son has OCD, ADHD, wears glasses and is undergoing the usual pre-teen orthodontic care right now. He is doing very well, but this is only because of the team of specialists that we have seen over the years to help us along. We have a prescription deductible to meet for each member of the family each year, and then we pay a co-payment based on the drug prescribed. My daughter has eczema and needs to have her hearing checked each year.

My employer pays for my health insurance premium, but I pay for the children to be covered. In addition, I have 12 weeks of summer to fill with camp for the kids, and this can be very expensive.

My flex plan has allowed me to set aside pre-tax dollars for all of these expenses, which has helped me save money. I'm a single mom working full-time and I can't imagine how I will be able to seek all of the health care my son needs without this wonderful benefit that helps me pay for it all.

Claire / Connecticut

I have a FSA and a HRA account and have depended on theses accounts over the past several years to help pay for routine and unplanned out-of-pocket medical expenses. We have a high deductible health plan. The deductible amount was $4,000 for prior plan years and is $5,000 this year. My family and I are normally healthy individuals and the high deductible health plan seemed to suit our lifestyle and help us manage our planned medical visits and expenses. However, the past three years we have not been as fortunate; health issues occurred unexpectedly.  Here are the three most costly ones.

• In the late summer of 2007, my husband was diagnosed with Lyme disease.  He was successfully treated but had considerable pharmacy and medical expenses due to tests and treatments.
• In November 2008, we were in automobile accident out of state; both my daughter and husband were treated in an emergency room setting and transported by two ambulances because we could not all fit in one. Thankfully, only minor injuries.
• In June of 2009, my husband was diagnosed with stage IV Melanoma. At this time my husband is cancer free but there is a high probability that the cancer can come back so I know there will be future medical expenses due to the team of doctors he will now need to see and the routine testing that will be involved.

Having FSA and HRA accounts helped us to better cope with these situations by allowing us pay our medical bills at least up until the deductibles were met and the full medical coverage kicked in. Without our flex account funds we would more then likely still be paying the 2007 and 2008 medical bills.

Roosevelt / Arizona

A flexible spending account helped me with my dental coverage a couple of years ago. My insurance only paid $1,500 of the procedure which had a total cost of $3,000. I was able to pay for the entire cost with my insurance and the amount of my flexible spending account. If there are restrictions that limit the FSA - why would it even be called flexible? Limiting the FSA would greatly affect families that really need the money to pay for health services that are not covered by insurance.

Vicki / Wisconsin

I use my medical Flexible Spending Account to pay for over-the-counter items that reduce the need for prescriptions for allergies and sinus issues. I also use this resource to pay for and put together a budget for alternative treatments such as acupuncture, which my health insurance only pays up to $100 per year.

The most important item I use my account for is the expenses my family incurs for my daughter's therapy. She has developmental delays. These delays are addressed through therapy using similar techniques as for children diagnosed with Autism, but since she is not Autistic, the latest bills passed do not assist us with her expenses. She also does not qualify for other assistance like the Katie Beckett Program, so without being able to put aside pretax dollars, it would create a hardship for us to continue her treatment two days a week. Her success and future is directly connected to our ability to be able to send her to the current facility assisting in her care.

Sonja / Maryland

My FSA is a critical component to my family’s ability to meet our medical needs. Often times, there are deductibles, copays and coinsurance costs that have to be paid. For a family of four with medical issues, having a FSA helps us get necessary medicine and testing. The pre-tax benefit is important when you're in an income bracket that is not high enough but not “low income” either; this makes a big difference. We use our FSA for health and dependent care. We would be extremely disappointed if this benefit is taken away.

Karen / California

With an existing FSA, I am able to meet most of my health costs. If this option goes away, I am not sure if I can continue to do so. The fact that I can put aside a certain amount of money each paycheck and receive a tax break for it, helps my total net income and costs.

With my husband’s failing health, I use my FSA to cover costs for prescription drugs, office co-pays and medical supplies. He was denied SSI benefits, but can no longer work. I have the full financial responsibility for my family. My income is in the lower class income ratio and every savings is appreciated. I encourage Congress to keep and promote FSAs as part of health care reform.

Stephanie / Missouri

I grew up in a working class family with four siblings. My father worked in low paying factory jobs and my mother stayed at home and took care of the children. In our home there was plenty of love and always food on the table but regular visits to the dentist were a luxury we could not afford. I graduated from high school and worked at several jobs that did not offer dental insurance and my teeth continued to get worse and worse. By the time I began my current position I was in constant pain and needed thousands of dollars in dental work.

My FSA has been a godsend for me. In the last two years I have been able to complete all of the dental work that I so badly needed. Eliminating flexible spending plans would cause undue hardship to many working class families who count on it to afford their medical care.

Bonnie / New Jersey

I have several medical conditions that require me to take various expensive medications on a monthly basis. If it were not for my FSA account and the pre-tax savings, I might not be as likely to renew all of my prescriptions which could result in serious medical complications.

Ann / Wisconsin

My family and I have taken advantage of the FSA plans offered to us through our employers for many years. We have come to depend on convenience that FSA plans offer to us for paying for costs that are not covered by our health, vision and dental plans. These costs to my family have significantly increased over the years.

As a person who has to constantly be on maintenance medication every month, the FSA plan and its debit card are invaluable to me. In this economy, we live pay check to pay check and when a health care cost; whether planned or unplanned, becomes a reality we don't always have the money to pay for it. With the FSA plan we can pay for it and not be worried about outstanding bills. Losing the FSA plans will drastically impact me and my family in a very negative way.

Paul / New York

FSAs are a great way for my family to save money on numerous types of medical expenses. It allows us to put aside funds all year and to have access to these funds as needed. Many times we incur unexpected medical expenses; having an FSA in place can be a relief. At a time when we are all trying to make ends meet and take better care of ourselves, why would the government impose such a thing? Did anyone ever think that doing away with FSAs could potentially increase medical plan claims and increase medical premiums?

Bonnie / California

As a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, I rely on my FSA to help pay for all of her medical expenses that are not covered by our insurance plan. This tax benefit has helped tremendously as insurance plans cover very little on medical equipment. She needs braces and a walker to help her walk. Eliminating this benefit will definitely increase my out-of-pocket expenses not to mention my taxes.

Jennifer / Texas

My family consists of six people: my husband and I as well as four children ranging from four to twelve years of age. Dental care, vision, and medical bills are obviously a big expense each year. I have had a flex plan for 5 to 6 years and have never thought twice about renewing it. This has made a huge impact in our ability to plan and pay for healthcare costs that insurance does not pay.

Karl / Arizona

I am a diabetic suffering with neuropathy. The most hopeful treatment I have available to me is a progressive medical treatment that is quite expensive and not covered under my normal health insurance. I also have a lot of dental work that I need done in the next year. Without FSA available to me, I would not be able to afford either of these health treatments.

Brandi / Michigan

Having an FSA is very important to my family. I have a disabled child who accumulates a lot of medical bills. This program has allowed my husband and me to pay these bills using our FSA debit card. Last year, our medical expenses exceeded $12,000.

Stephanie / Florida

I use my FSA for yearly eye care exams and dental care (which my insurance does not cover) as well as for other doctors office visits and prescriptions my son and I need. Thanks to my FSA, when I am sick or when my son is sick, I don't have to think twice about going to the doctor or filling a prescription. The money is there if I need it. It is a great supplement to my insurance plan and it gives me peace of mind.

Teresa / Washington

I am a 29 year old with an 11 year old son. I have an FSA, HRA and employer funded health insurance. My company covers my premium and I pay a portion of the premium to cover my son. We are enrolled in a high deductible medical plan. Since we have a $2,000 deductible, my company has also set up an HRA for each person enrolled in the group medical to help them with the deductible. Each HRA holds $1,500 that will help you pay for deductible expenses; more if you have dependents.

If I didn't have my HRA and FSA, I would never go to the doctor. I cannot afford $2,000 in medical bills a year (per person). I have 2 auto-immune diseases, psoriasis and hypothyroidism. Both of these diseases are expensive and both are life long illnesses. I would not be able to afford my $30 copay every time one of us needs to go to the doctor nor could I afford the medications we need. My son is allergic to shellfish. EpiPen's are not cheap; they expire and need to be replaced frequently. My skin ointments for psoriasis can cost up to $350 for each tube.

We used to do without these medications and just hope for the best. With the FSA, we don't have to do that anymore.

Linda / Missouri

I have fairly recently been able to use the FSA at work. My husband has several medications that he needs to take and is retired so he uses my FSA benefit. I am diabetic and it is imperative that I see my doctor every six months to check my blood sugar and see if my medication needs to be changed or increased. Not being able to have a FSA would change things drastically for us since were have only one income.

Kate / Virginia

About three years ago, my daughter and I both needed significant dental work done. My dental insurance has an annual cap of $1,500 per person, which left me to cover the additional $5,000 out-of-pocket. If I hadn't been able to plan for this with my FSA, there is no way I would have been able to have the work we needed done.

Lisa / Michigan

I started using a flexible spending account when I was single and at the lower end of the pay scales. At the time, it allowed me a savings tool to pay for things that were not covered by my insurance such as eye exams and dental work.

Now, I have a family including a three year old daughter. My priorities have changed, but my expenses have grown as far as health care is concerned. We visit the doctor at least once a month and I have become at risk for breast cancer. Because my sister is a survivor, my doctors are keeping a close eye on me. This means my visits may not be covered by my insurance company because they don't find them necessary. I have had to increase my FSA account because of these out of pocket expenses.

President Obama has promised not to increase my taxes for health care under his new plan. If my FSA account is altered or taken away in its entirety, this promise will be broken. I take responsibility for my health care and taking this benefit away will restrict me from doing so in the future.

Debbie / California

Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs and make sure each and every dollar is spent efficiently. My family depends on our flexible spending account (FSA) to make paying for our medical expenses easier. Without them, we would have to think twice about seeing a doctor or dentist and prescription medications.

We are fortunate to have good health and dental insurance. However the $30 copays for office visits and prescriptions really adds up quickly. Our FSA has been an important part of our household budget for well over ten years. We would really feel the effects if we did not have access to this vital benefit.

Melanie / Connecticut

My family has used a flexible spending account and a dependent care account for eleven years. We have two children, one with braces and one with a retainer. The cost of orthodontia has been more thank $7,000 this year alone. Flexible spending accounts have allowed us to save a substantial amount on costs that are not covered by our health insurance company.

Carolyn / Texas

Last year I had two unexpected surgeries and I was so thankful that I had my FSA to help offset my share of the expense. We're typically a healthy family that uses our FSA with our over-the-counter prescriptions and vision care. Most of the medicines were originally prescribed and are now available over-the-counter and in generic form. Being able to use my FSA really helps me afford my maintenance medicines and keeps me out of the doctor's office.

Renee / Kansas

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis more than seven years ago and have watched the cost of my prescription and medical care increase from $800 to almost $2,000 monthly. I have contributed income to my FSA pre-tax for six of those seven years which has enabled me to pay for my copays and the deductibles incurred to fight this disease. I would not have been able to afford to have many of the services I need if I were forced to use taxed dollars.

My ability to keep up to date with my treatment plan using my FSA is a major contributing reason why I am and will stay a productive worker in the workforce. Delaying and potentially stopping the progression of a disabling disease is only possible by my being able to afford the costs of the treatment. Please do not take away one of the tools that I have been blessed with to affordably fight this potentially disabling disease.

Laurie / New York

My family and I depend on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to make paying for our medical expenses easier. Without them, I would have to think twice about seeing a doctor and would definitely buy fewer over-the-counter medications.

I might even wait longer before getting urgent medical care. I have found this benefit invaluable in planning and paying for health expenses for myself, my husband and three children over the last five years. Last year alone we had three trips to the ER and my spending account helped me to pay for them. FSAs must remain as a functional option for working families.

Deanne / Illinois

I am 72 years old and just discovered that I have Parkinson's Disease, one pill a day will cost me close to $1,000 for a three-month period. Without the FSA account, I don't know how I would be able to pay for this medicine. I also take several other medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These maintenance drugs must be taken for my conditions.

Eunice / California

My employer-sponsored flexible spending program is an extremely helpful benefit which I have used to pay for health care costs for myself and my husband and dependent care for my three children.

The benefit not only provides us with tax savings, it enables us to pay for services that otherwise might be difficult to afford. I contribute the maximum amount allowable to my account each year and have used it to pay for dental and vision expenses, doctor’s office co-pays, over-the-counter medications and emergency situations.

Our saved funds were conveniently available when I had to have a serious burn treated at the emergency room and then again when I was allergic to the medication I received there. Now, with health care costs increasing for consumers, it is imperative that these flexible spending plans be preserved to prevent putting additional financial stress on working families.

Crys / Missouri

We have been using FSAs for years. My son was killed 2 1/2 years ago. Without the FSA I would definitely have to think twice before getting my depression and sleeping medications. Last year, my husband had to have a procedure done that had a $500 co-pay. If we had not had the Flex Card, we would not have been able to get the procedure done. I put aside $60 every week to cover our physician, dental and vision needs. Without the FSA our dental and vision would definitely be put aside and we would have to think twice before going to the doctors office. Eliminating FSAs would certainly be detrimental to my family's health as well as our finances.

Diana / Nebraska

My flex plan is very important to me. I have two kids and one of my two kids is sick on a regular basis. I live paycheck to paycheck and it's nice to know that I have the money available to make sure my kids will be ok. If I didn't have my flex account, I wouldn't be able to afford those once a month trips to the doctor/emergency room to treat his breathing issues. Not to mention the medication he is on which is to prevent or lessen the symptoms. I rely on my flex plan to provide my children with the care they need, when it's needed.

Brett / California

As a single father, I cannot imagine what I would do without the flexible spending account that I use to cover health costs for myself and my son. Due to the high cost of living and onerous and exorbitant co-pays, fees and prescription costs it has fallen to my flexible spending plan to cover many health expenses—both emergency and routine.

I would not be able to provide the same care for my son, who has a severe peanut allergy and asthma, without this benefit. He has been hospitalized at least five times and has required various treatments including Epi Pens, nebulizers, respiratory medications for nebulizers, inhalers and allergy medications. Without this benefit, I would have to look for another form of income in order to compensate for the savings provided to me by my flexible spending account.

Clint / Arizona

My family and I have been using a health care FSA since 2006. We have limited means and use our FSA account as the primary source of payment for our out of pocket medical expenses. If we were to lose our FSA, it would absolutely negatively impact our quality of life.

Mary / Georgia

I have used flexible spending accounts for more than ten years. These accounts have been a valuable benefit to my family. I am married and have two young children. My four year-old is very active, yet clumsy. She went to the emergency room four times last year. Without my FSA, I would not have been prepared for these unplanned emergencies. If this benefit is eliminated as part of the health care reform act, it will create hardships for me and my family.

Paula / California

My family has used a flexible spending account for medical expenses for over 10 years. With increasingly limited insurance coverage for things like glasses, orthodontia, chiropractic care and prescriptions, my family's medical expenses just keep growing. Setting aside funds in a flexible spending account each year helps me budget for those expenses and the tax saving that the plan provides is the only way to defray costs that aren't covered by insurance. Capping or eliminating flexible spending accounts would definitely not be a positive healthcare reform for my family. It would increase our health care expenses and would make budgeting for healthcare much more difficult.

Lee / Mississippi

My wife and I both are state employees and do not make a lot of money but have children and health issues. My children get dental care and we all have huge monthly prescription drug cost. Not to mention the yearly doctor visits for chronic health problems that must be taken care of so we can work. I did not ask for bad health but should not be penalized for it.

Tracy / Texas

I have been using a flexible spending account for 15 years now. My husband and I are both in outside sales, where some years are better than others, so it is really important for us to have funds set aside in a spending account to cover medical expenses.

We have used this benefit for allergy shots, glasses and all kinds of expenses for our children. For example, my daughter had tubes put in her ears, my son is having oral surgery and on occasion we have required miscellaneous antibiotics and medications. I even convinced my father to use a flexible spending plan to pay for his Parkinson’s disease medication, which cost him hundreds of dollars every month.

The tax benefit from the spending account helped defray the costs and he always had the funds kept aside and available when he needed them. As a result, capping or eliminating these spending accounts would certainly be detrimental to my family’s finances.