Save Flexible Spending Plans

Save Flexible Spending Plans styles itself "a national grassroots advocacy campaign to protect against the restricted use of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) as an option to help fund a small portion of the costs for health care reform efforts...sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of private employee benefit programs on a tax-advantaged basis."

The St. Petersburg Times describes the group as "an advocacy organization that opposes restrictions on flexible spending accounts in health care reform efforts. It is sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation, a group that promotes the accounts."

Overview
The Save Flexible Spending Plans website says:
 * Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) allow participants to contribute pre-tax dollars from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses not covered by insurance.


 * The recently approved health care reform bill will restrict FSAs by imposing a $2,500 limit on FSA contributions and requiring a doctor's note for the purchase of over-the-counter medications.

Save Flexible Spending Plans organization endorsed by a union
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union endorsed the Save Flexible Spending Plans organization. CBS News writes, "But an unlikely bedfellows coalition that is characteristic of this health care debate - where common interests can unite groups that might typically be at odds - is mobilizing to try to stop the change. A limited print ad campaign declaring "Flexible spending accounts work!" appeared this past week in Capitol Hill publications. It's paid for by a group called Save Flexible Spending Plans that is backed by insurers, companies that administer consumer spending accounts and other businesses with a financial stake in the outcome. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union endorsed the campaign and its logo appears on the ads."

Jody Dietel
Jody Dietel is the face of Save Flexible Spending Plans, featured in a video on the Save Flexible Spending Plans site which is included also on a designated YouTube channel.

Dietel - who offers her personal health testimonial of her chronic health conditions in the videos - was formerly founder and CEO of Creative Benefits, Inc, later acquired by WageWorks, where she is presently Chief Compliance Officer. She also serves as Conference Committee Chair of the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation.

Contact details
Save Flexible Spending Plans 1101 17th Street, NW Suite 508 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 872-4860 Email: info AT savemyflexplan.org Web: http://www.savemyflexplan.org

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Americans for Quality and Affordable Healthcare
 * Citizens Against Unfair Health Care Taxes
 * Coalition for Health Insurance Choices
 * Health Care
 * Health Care America
 * Universal health care

External articles

 * "Flexible Spending Account Providers Fighting to Protect Benefits", CFO, August 3, 2009.

External resources

 * Jennifer Saranow Schultz, "A Health Care Legislation Explainer for Consumers", The New York Times, December 22, 2009.