Funding an FSA or HSA using 401(k) or IRA funds pre-tax

[prive40]

I am retiring in a month and have been told I won't be eligible anymore for the FSA that my company currently has and I've used for many years.  While I fully expected that, it did get me thinking. Why hasn't the Governmant allowed retired people to fund a FSA or HSA using 401(k) or IRA funds pre-tax? It seems odd that at a time where my medical spending will rise and my income falls, I do not have the option to pay for any medical expesnes pre-tax as I did while employed.

In order to pay $10,000 in Medical bills, I have to cash in $13,000 of my 401(k). For medical expenses to be tax deductible, they'd have to be astronomical and only those expenses in excess of 10% our AGI can we even start deducting them. With an FSA the savings start with the first dollar spent.