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Commentary | Feb. 26, 2025

Coast Guard military members can now set up tax-free flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care

By Kathy Murray, Senior Writer, MyCG

Coast Guard military members will be eligible for both Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSA) and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (HCFSA) for the first time during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) from Mar. 3-31, 2025.    

Beginning Mar. 3, active-duty military members, reservists (when active duty for more than 180 days), and reserve component managers (RCMs) in the Coast Guard will be able to set up a: 

  • Tax-free DCFSA to cover up to $5,000 a year per household in childcare and other qualifying expenses, such as preschool, day camp, afterschool programs and child or adult day care.  
  • Tax-free HCFSA to cover up to $3,300 a year in qualifying medical expenses.   

These new benefits were previously only available to civilians who were able to set them up during the annual federal benefits open season in November. In addition, the DCFSA was available for the Department of Defense (DoD) during the Nov 2024 federal open season.  Therefore, you may see a different enrollment date on some of the DoD messaging for DCFSA. It is important to note that eligible Coast Guard members are not eligible to enroll in these savings plans Mar. 3.  

How to enroll   

Qualified military members can enroll in a HCFSA and/or a DCFSA for the 2025 plan during the SEP from March 3 through March 31.    

Go to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program at FSAFEDS to sign up. Specific enrollment instructions for both DCFSA and HCFSA can be found here. 

Once enrolled, the amount(s) you specified will be withheld from your semi-monthly paycheck and deposited into your HCFSA and/or DCFSA.  

Where to find more information? 

Free assistance is available to help members make the right decision, provide enrollment information, and understand how the DCFSA affects both their families' financial budget and tax situation.   

-USCG-

Resources:  

feature news Healthcare Health Care Flexible Spending Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts

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