With fall just around the corner, benefits managers are gearing up to educate employees about flexible spending accounts for the open enrollment period. While benefits professionals may have a good handle on the tax-advantaged benefits accounts that can save participants up to 40 percent on health care, dependent care and commuting expenses, there's still plenty about FSAs that benefit pros may not know. 

Now is the perfect time for HR managers to keep details of FSAs top of mind and help employees understand the fine print so they recognize why enrolling this fall is the smart financial decision.

Eligible expenses for FSA users number in the thousands. You may be surprised at the breadth of products and services that are covered by FSAs. Participants can save big on a wide range of expenses: from dental and vision care with a health care FSA; and nannies and after-school care with a dependent care FSA. While we're at it, don't forget to elect your monthly commuter benefits: mass transit commuting expenses and parking for work. To explore a list of items that participants can purchase using an FSA, check out www.savesmartspendhealthy.com.