Save Mart Now Accepting Flexible Spending Account Debit Cards Chain-wide
Registers in the 115 Save Mart and Lucky stores with pharmacies were upgraded in late 2008 to accept FSA debit cards and itemize eligible health care purchases, enabling customers to review and maximize their benefits for the calendar year. The 2009 upgrade rollout expands this benefit to all Save Mart Supermarkets customers who use FSA debit cards.
"FSA debit cards are a convenient way to identify, itemize and pay for eligible medical expenses at the grocery checkstand," said Michele Snider, senior director of pharmacy for Save Mart. "Customers no longer have to guess if an over-the-counter medication or medical appliance qualifies as an FSA expense. Our store receipts now become records that can help customers track and plan their budgets and taxes."
FSA debit cards allow employees with pre-tax funds in medical FSAs to purchase eligible items such as prescriptions, doctor visits, dental care, vision care and certain over-the-counter medications and medical equipment. The majority of FSAs for medical expenses require that funds deducted for 2009 be spent by the end of the calendar year and paid out by the end of March 2010. Many plan administrators advise employees to save all applicable receipts.
Save Mart operates nearly 250 stores throughout northern California and northern Nevada under the Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky and FoodMaxx banners.