What type of account allows employees to set aside pre-tax income for health care expenses?

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is designed specifically to allow employees to set aside pre-tax earnings for eligible health care expenses. By using pre-tax income, employees effectively reduce their taxable income, leading to tax savings. The funds contributed to an FSA can be used for a broad range of health-related expenditures, such as copayments, deductibles, and certain over-the-counter medications, making it a valuable tool for managing out-of-pocket health expenses.

While a Health Savings Account (HSA) also permits pre-tax contributions for health care costs, it has specific eligibility requirements, such as being enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, which FSA does not have. A Retirement Savings Account (RSA) focuses on long-term savings for retirement rather than immediate health expenses, and an Employee Welfare Account (EWA) is typically used for a broader range of welfare benefits and does not specifically designate pre-tax income for health care expenses. Therefore, the nature and intended purpose of an FSA make it the correct answer for this question.