Plan Year: Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2022
^{Pre-tax payroll contributions are made during the plan year.}

Incurred Expense/Reimbursement Window: Jan. 1, 2022 - Apr. 30, 2023
^{To be eligible for reimbursement, expenses must be incurred by Dec. 31 of the year in which funds are contributed to the spending account.}

Reimbursement Filing Deadline: Apr. 30, 2023
^{All requests for reimbursement must be received by University Benefits no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 30, 2023, or you will forfeit the unclaimed balance in your FSA(s). This program is not a health spending account (HSA) program where a balance can be carried over.}

Employees must enroll in the FSA program during the annual benefits open enrollment period each fall for the next plan year.

• Your elections from the previous year will not carry forward unless you have unused credits defaulting into a health care spending account. 
• You may also have the opportunity to enroll in the FSA program within 30 days of the employment in an eligible appointment, or within 30 days of a qualifying event that allows you to make a change to FSA. 

If you did not enroll in an FSA, however, your paycheck shows that you are contributing money into a Health Care FSA: This situation arises when an employee has unused benefit credits after submitting their benefit elections. For example:

• All regular benefit-eligible employees receive the $90 general benefit credit, and depending on other benefit elections, the employee may receive other shared savings credits.
• Suppose you choose not to use the credits towards any other before-tax benefits, such as additional life insurance or AD&D insurance. In that case, the system will default any remaining credits into a health care FSA for you. 
• These credits are not part of your salary, and you may not be paid out these credits unless you submit a request for reimbursement of qualified, eligible health care expenses. 

Review more information about credits. 

Examples of eligible expenses may include health plan deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance; eye exams, contact lenses, and glasses; prescription drugs; dental care, including orthodontia; and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medications.

Find a more complete list of eligible, not eligible, and expenses that would need specific documentation. 

• If you terminate employment during the year, expenses must be incurred by the last day of the month in which you terminate.
• Deposits to the health care spending account may reduce your Social Security wage base, and consequently, your Social Security tax contributions may be slightly reduced.

Returned Product

• If money is requested for the purchase of a product that is subsequently returned, or the order for the product is canceled, then the money received by the employee must be returned to the University to be credited to the employee’s Flexible Spending Account.
• The funds may be used for other appropriate purposes for that year. Failure to return funds to the University in these situations is a violation of university policies and IRS regulations. Abuse of the Flexible Spending Account program will result in disciplinary action against the employee including possible termination, reporting of taxable income to the IRS, and/or criminal charges for theft.

The preferred method for reimbursement is through Employee Self Service, select "Benefits & Wellness", and then the "Health & Dependent Care Flexible Spending" tile, then "Start a Health Care Claim" button at the top. 

• Scan and upload appropriate receipts and documentation.
• Claims filed using Employee Self Service are generally processed by University Benefits within 20 business days of receipt. Processing may take longer during peak times. 

Review detailed instructions on how to submit a claim online through Employee Self Service.