Section 125 Plans (cafeteria Plans)

Definition of "Section 125 plans (cafeteria plans)"

Shon McGuire real estate agent

Written by

Shon McGuireelite badge icon

Adams Cameron & Co. Realtors

Additions made by Congress in 1978 to the Internal Revenue Code that provide an employee benefit plan under which the employee makes an irrevocable decision to forego a portion of future income in exchange for receiving future benefits not subject to income tax at reception date. The employer deducts the cost of the employee's future benefits from present income as a business expense. These plans usually provide three options:

  1. Premium Conversion Employee contributes a proportionate share of the family health care costs with pre-tax dollars.
  2. Medical Reimbursement Account Employee is able to use a SALARY REDUCTION PLAN to pay with dollars on a pre-tax basis for medical expenses not covered by insurance; a separate medical reimbursement account is established for each employee.
  3. Dependent Care Reimbursement Account Employee is able to use a salary reduction plan to pay with dollars on a pre-tax basis for dependent care expenses.
An additional option sometimes provided for employees only (family members are excluded) is TERM LIFE INSURANCE for an amount up to $50,000 and DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE. All employees must have equal access to the plans whether they are highly compensated or non highly compensated employees. Any monies left in the employee's account not used by the end of the year revert back to the company; this is known as the Use It or Lose It rule. As the employee incurs expenses, that employee applies for reimbursement through a form attached to the bill. When the administrator of the plan issues a check to the employee for the expenses, a statement is also provided that shows the amount remaining in the employee's account.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Ending a pension plan at the election of an employer or sponsor. The employer has the unilateral right to change or terminate a pension plan at any time. However, the termination must meet ...

Document used to sign up employees for plans such as salary savings, life insurance, or other employee benefits. ...

Peril that occurs when personal property of two or more people is mixed to such an extent that any one owner can no longer identify his or her property. ...

Insurance sold by a stock insurance company that is usually in the form of nonparticipating insurance. ...

Situation involving a chance of a loss or no loss, but no chance of gain. For example, either one's home burns or it does not; this risk is insurable. ...

provision in a CASH VALUE INSURANCE policy that an insured will receive the equity in some form even if the insurance is canceled. vested benefit to a retirement plan participant. It is ...

Policy that has many similar characteristics to that of the survivor-ship annuity in that the annuitant receives a predetermined monthly income benefit for life upon the death of the ...

Insurance company that is licensed by a state to market and service particular lines of insurance in that state. ...

Condition in which life insurance sales increase at a rate greater than the general rate of growth of the economy. As a society moves from an agriculture-based economy to an industry-based ...

Popular Insurance Questions