Health Care Flexible Spending Account

What you need to know

A Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) helps you manage eligible health care expenses. Your pretax contributions can be used to pay for doctors’ visits, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications.

Note that HealthEquity is our new FSA administrator in 2024.

FSA plans require reenrollment annually, because current year elections do not automatically roll over.

Health Care FSA fast facts

Administrator: HealthEquity

You contribute through paycheck contributions. You can use the money to pay for eligible health care expenses during the calendar year. For employees hired after the first of the year, your benefits effective date is your hire date.

Contribute up to $3,200 in 2024. And you don’t pay federal or state income taxes on FSA contributions. Your entire Health Care FSA annual election is available at the beginning of the plan year, and the balance is reduced by any reimbursements made throughout the year.

Carry over up to $640 of your unused balance from 2024 to the 2025 plan year.

You’ll receive a HealthEquity debit card if you contribute $50 or more.* Use the card to pay for eligible health care expenses anywhere the debit card is accepted — and skip the reimbursement process! Your eligible expenses are automatically deducted from your account.

Claim Filing Deadlines

If you were enrolled in a Health Care FSA in 2023, file your 2023 claims through your Smart-Choice account (former FSA administrator). Log in to (@Work) | (Log In) and navigate to Smart-Choice to access your account. The deadline to file eligible claims incurred from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, will be April 30, 2024. Contact Smart-Choice at 844-474-664 for assistance. Please read the FAQ on the 2024 FSA administrator transition to HealthEquity for more details, including Key Dates to remember.

If you enrolled in a Health Care FSA in 2024, the deadline to file eligible claims incurred form January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, will be April 30, 2025. Login in to your HealthEquity account to file your 2024 claims. Contact HealthEquity at 866-356-5800 for assistance.

FSAs are subject to IRS rules. Be sure to save all your receipts. You may be asked to provide copies to confirm your expenses. If you do not provide receipts when requested, your HealthEquity debit card could be deactivated.

Limited Purpose FSA

Enrolled in the CDHP with HSA plan and want to enroll in the Health Care FSA?  It’s important to know that reimbursement under the Health Care FSA is limited to dental and vision expenses only. The HSA already gives you a tax benefit on medical expenses. However, if you reach the medical deductible in the Meritain CDHP, you will be able to submit eligible medical and pharmacy expenses. You must submit documentation to HealthEquity confirming that you have reached your medical deductible. You cannot submit a medical or pharmacy claim for expenses incurred prior to reaching your plan’s medical deductible.

Learn how the FSA and HSA work together, and compare the benefits and advantages of the HSA, FSA, and HRA.

* Your card is good for three years from date of issue. If you are enrolled in the CDHP with HSA medical plan, eligible expenses are limited to dental and vision, and you will NOT receive a debit card if you enroll in the Health Care FSA.

HealthEquity administers the Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), replacing Smart-Choice. Use your new HealthEquity debit card in 2024.

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How do I know how much to contribute?

Typically, this is a use-it-or-lose-it account. Any unused funds exceeding the annual allowable carryover amount at the end of the calendar year will be forfeited. You won’t receive a refund if you don’t use all the money in your FSA, which is why it’s important to understand what expenses are eligible and to conservatively estimate your FSA expenses for the coming year. In plan year 2024, participants can carry over up to $640 of unused funds to use in plan year 2025.

Use the FSA estimator on Your Benefits Resources (YBR) during Annual Enrollment to help you estimate your expenses. Another way to determine your Health Care FSA contribution is to talk to your medical, dental, and vision providers. Each can help you budget your expenses for the upcoming year. Also, if you have recurring medical, dental, or vision expenses, you likely already know how much you’ll need to contribute to cover those expenses.

Your contribution can’t be changed (increased or decreased) during the year unless you experience a qualifying life event (e.g., the birth of a child) and notify Your Benefits Resources (YBR) of the change within 30 days of the event.

The YBR team can answer your questions about qualifying life events and whether you can change your contribution election as a result.

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Eligible health care expenses

Deductibles, coinsurance amounts, copays, and other expenses that are described in IRS Publication 502: Medical and Dental Expenses are considered eligible or a qualified expense. Premiums for health and other insurance aren't eligible expenses.

You may also now use your FSA or Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to buy over-the-counter (OTC) medications without a prescription, like Tylenol and other pain relievers, heartburn medications, allergy relief, and more.

You may submit eligible expenses incurred by you, your spouse, your children, and any other person who can be claimed as a qualified dependent on your federal income tax return. Domestic partner expenses are not covered.

Still have questions about the Health Care FSA? Read the FAQ to learn more.

Read the FAQ

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Submitting a claim

You’ll need to submit your receipts for reimbursement online. You can also quickly request reimbursement on your smartphone through the mobile app. Eligible claims are typically processed within two to five days. Learn more about filing claims with HealthEquity, including tips on filing claims with ease. You can activate direct deposit online, which will expedite your reimbursement directly to your bank account.

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If you have questions

Contact the benefits administrator, HealthEquity at 866-356-5800.

To view your FSA online, access HealthEquity (@Work | Log In).

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Provider contact information