Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside pre-tax money to pay for health care or dependent care costs. You may want to consider an FSA to help with eligible expenses for health care, childcare, or elder care.

FSAs expire every year on December 31. You must re-enroll each year during Open Enrollment to participate in this program.

Go to eServe to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account within 30 days of becoming benefits-eligible, or within 31 days of experiencing a qualifying life event, or during Open Enrollment.

Eligibility

Faculty: Half-time or more with an appointment of at least two semesters
Staff: Regularly scheduled to work at least 17.5 hours a week for a minimum 90-day period
Postdoctoral Scholars: Must have at least a twelve-month appointment, a Social Security number, and pay FICA taxes
International Employees: Eligible for global benefits through Cigna, have a Social Security Number and pay U.S. taxes

Health Care FSA

The Health Care FSA lets you pay for eligible health care expenses for you and your eligible tax dependents using pre-tax dollars. Please note, you may not contribute to both the Health Care FSA and the Health Savings Account (HSA).

FSA-Eligible Health Care Expenses (PDF)
FSA-Allowable Over-the-Counter Expenses (PDF)
Effective January 1, 2020, many Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications are now eligible for reimbursement through your Health Care FSA. Due to the CARES Act, many OTC items no longer require a prescription, letter of medical necessity (LMN), or doctor’s directive. You can use your EBPA debit card, or you can pay for the OTC medications out-of-pocket and submit receipts for reimbursement to EBPA. For more information please visit the FSAstore.com.
You may contribute an amount up to the annual limit set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Health Care FSA limit for 2021 is $2,750 per employee.

Dependent Care FSA

The Dependent Care FSA lets you pay for daycare, elder care, and other eligible dependent care expenses using pre-tax dollars.

FSA-Eligible Dependent Care Expenses (PDF)

You may contribute an amount up to the limit set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Dependent Care FSA limit for 2021 is $5,000 per family for dependent children (less than age 14) or adult/ elder daycare expenses.
If you set aside money for dependent care services (child daycare), you will need to verify that your children are under age 14.
There is a $100 minimum annual enrollment contribution required to enroll in a Dependent Care FSA.

Special 2020 Rule: Carryover Provision for Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), approved on December 27, 2020, allows employers to adopt certain changes to Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) rules, including carrying over of all unused funds from 2020 and allowing changes and elections to a 2021 FSA.

2021 FSA Special Election

The Special Election period is limited from February 1 through 28, 2021.
Employees can make any changes during this restricted time period using this form.
Changes are prospective (not retroactive) and are effective as of March 1, 2021.
To make any change, employees must submit a 2021 FSA Special Election Change Form by February 12, 2021.
For 2020, the IRS allowed an exception to allow ALL unused FSAs (both Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs) to be carried over into 2021.
Employees have until April 30, 2021 to submit expenses for 2020.
Any carryover does not count against your IRS contribution limit for the following year.

How to Submit a Claim

You can either use your Benefits Debit card to pay for eligible expenses or you can pay out of pocket and submit your claim online for reimbursement.

Important Reminders

Once you enroll in a Health Care and/or Dependent Care FSA, you will receive a letter from EBPA, our FSA vendor, that explains how to set up an online account and use the Benefits Debit Card. You will receive a debit card the first year you enroll. Each year after that, your card will be electronically updated with your new FSA election.
If you contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) you cannot contribute to a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA). To learn more about Health Savings Accounts visit Health Plans.
The IRS allows you to submit requests for reimbursement until April 30 for eligible expenses that you incurred while enrolled during the prior calendar year.
For the Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs, if you terminate from the university, you will have a 120-day run-out period following your termination date to submit eligible expenses that incurred during your employment.

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For More Information

If you or your family need an extra Benefits Debit Card, call EBPA at 888-678-3457.

eServe

Employee Self Service provides you with access to payroll and benefits information.

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Provided by Human Resources