Flexible Spending Accounts

• General Information

  Eligibility

  Employees represented by the AAUP-AFT, P&A, Operating Engineers, Supervising Engineers, Public Safety Officers, Michigan AFSCME Council 25-Local 1497, Local 517-M, Staff Association Local 2017, Hotel and Restaurant Employees Local 24, and Non-Represented Employees are eligible to participate in the WSU Flexible Spending Account program beginning January 1, 2005.

  Use It or Lose It

  Under IRS rules, you will forfeit all unused funds in your Health Care or Dependent Care FSA at the end of the filing period. This is known as the "Use It or Lose It" rule. Health Care and Dependent Care FSA expenses can be incurred as late as 2 ½ months beyond the Plan Year (March 15, 2024). Any expenses beyond that point are not reimbursable. Health Care and Dependent Care FSAs cannot be converted to cash. For this reason, you should estimate your anticipated expenses conservatively.

  For more information about the WSU Flexible Spending Accounts, please refer to the FSA Summary Plan Description.

• Health Care FSA

  The Health Care FSA benefit (referred to as "Medical FSA" by Wex) permits eligible employees to contribute pre-tax income to a Health Care FSA. The Health Care FSA will reimburse you on a pre-tax basis for your unreimbursed medical expenses. It is like getting a discount on these bills, so you don't have to earn as much to pay for them.

  It is likely you will have some medical expenses that will not be covered by your health care insurance that you will have to pay for in the coming year. For example, you or your family may have medical expenses that are subject to deductibles and copayments under the Blue Cross Blue Shield medical insurance plan. Or, you may incur expenses that are not reimbursed at all, such as hearing aids or eyeglasses. Normally, you would pay for these expenses with after-tax income. Because taxes reduce the value of a dollar, you would have to earn considerably more than $100 to pay for $100 of expenses.

  How Much to Contribute

  Determine your annual predictable unreimbursed medical expenses for the plan year. You should take into account all health insurance deductibles and copayments, as well as uninsured medical, dental, vision, and hearing care expenses.

  Maximum

  The maximum amount you may elect to defer to a Health Care FSA for 2024 is $3,200. 

  Minimum

  The minimum amount you may elect to defer to a Health Care FSA is $130.

  Authorized salary reductions into your Flexible Spending Account may not be changed during the calendar year unless you experience an eligible change in status as defined by Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and permitted by the Plan.

  Covered Expenses

  Generally, the expenses covered must be "medically necessary" as determined by a physician. Reimbursement of expenses must be for expenses incurred (not billed or paid) during the applicable coverage period. Claims must be properly substantiated prior to reimbursement. Expenses deductible under IRS Code Section 213 may be reimbursed from a Health Care FSA. For more detailed information on reimbursable expenses, you may call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-3676 for a copy of the IRS publication 502.
  
  Some expenses which cannot be reimbursed include premiums paid for coverage for you or your spouse's medical and/or dental plan; nursing care for a healthy infant; elective cosmetic surgery; domestic help for primarily non-medical services; recreation and health club fees; nutritional services, even if prescribed by a physician; dancing or swimming lessons; expenses not incurred during the plan year; marriage counseling; swimming pools; hot tubs; exercise equipment; vacations; or weight loss programs.
  
  A new change this year in the IRS regulations is to allow the expenses for smoking cessation to be paid for through a flexible spending account.

  Using Your Account

  For quick and easy access to your FSA account, please download the mobile app: Benefits by Wex

  Debit Card

  Health Care FSA expenses can be paid for with a debit card provided by the administrator, Wex. You may use the debit card to quickly and conveniently draw funds from your FSA to pay for eligible expenses.

  The use of the debit card will not require substantiation for certain type of expenses. Substantiating an expense normally requires you to submit itemized receipts and Explanation of Benefit statements to Wex. Your expenses will be auto-substantiated as long as each swipe of the debit card meets the parameters of your plan (i.e., office visit or emergency room co-pay, orthodontia monthly recurring payments or medicines prescribed by a physician from an IIAS-certified merchant). All other claims must be substantiated by submitting documentation of the expense to the claims administrator. Failure to provide substantiation of the expense will result in the card being turned off. In addition, you must pay back any improperly paid claims. If you are unable to provide adequate or timely substantiation as requested by the claim administrator, you must repay the Plan for the unsubstantiated expense.

  Reimbursement

  To receive reimbursement or pay a provider directly, you can file a claim in your online account or the WEX benefits mobile app. Simply upload an itemized bill for the expense, or the explanation of benefits indicating the insurance company's disposition, and proof of payment of the claim and such other information as WEX requires. When WEX approves the claim, payment will be issued up to the full amount of the eligible expense, not to exceed your elected Health Care FSA annual amount, less any amount already reimbursed during the Plan Year. According to IRS rules, the full reimbursement amount agreed to at the beginning of the year must be available for reimbursement at the beginning of the Plan Year.

  You should submit all reimbursement claims during the Plan Year. Claims must be submitted no later than 120 days after the end of the Plan Year. However, if you terminate employment or your coverage ends during the Plan Year, you must submit your claims within 120 days after your termination of employment or coverage end date. Only expenses incurred during the plan year and prior to the date your employment or coverage ends are eligible..

  Claim submissions may be submitted to:

  WEX
  Website: http://wexinc.com/
  Mobile App: Benefits by Wex
  Mail: P.O. Box 2926 Fargo, ND 58108
  
  Claim inquiries: 1-866-451-3399

• Dependent Care FSA

  The Dependent Care FSA benefit (referred to as "Dependent Care FSA" by Wex) permits eligible employees to contribute pre-tax income to a Dependent Care FSA. The Dependent Care FSA will reimburse you on a pre-tax basis for your eligible dependent care expenses (for example: babysitters, daycare, or the care of a parent). Normally, you would pay for these expenses with after-tax income. Utilizing a Dependent Care FSA is like getting a discount on these bills, so you do not have to earn as much to pay for them.
  
  Since there is also an after-tax credit available to individuals filing federal income tax returns, your participation in a Dependent Care FSA must be weighed against the after-tax credit for which you may be eligible.

  How Much to Contribute

  The minimum amount you may elect to defer to a Dependent Care FSA is $208. The maximum amount you may elect to defer to a Dependent Care FSA is $5,000. If your spouse participates in a Dependent Care FSA through another employer and you file a joint return, the combined contribution amount cannot exceed $5,000. You are responsible for coordinating your contributions to a Dependent Care FSA with your spouse to avoid exceeding the $5,000 limit.

  Maximum

  The maximum amount you may elect to defer to a Dependent Care FSA is dependent on your tax filing status:

  • Married and file a joint return, the maximum is the lesser of:
    • your earned income,
    • the earned income of your spouse (verification that your spouse's income exceeds $5,000 is required to enroll in a Dependent Care FSA) or
    • $5,000.
  • Married and file a separate tax return, the maximum is the lesser of:
    • $2,500 or
    • your earned income
  • Single and file head of household, the maximum is the lesser of:
    • $5,000 or
    • your earned income

  Minimum

  The minimum amount you may elect to defer to a Dependent Care FSA is $208.

  Authorized salary reductions into your Flexible Spending Account may not be changed during the calendar year unless you experience an eligible change in status as defined by Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and permitted by the Plan.

  Covered Expenses

  Reimbursement of dependent care expenses must be for expenses incurred (not billed or paid) during the applicable coverage period. Only dependent care expenses may be reimbursed from a Dependent Care FSA. Claims must be properly substantiated prior to reimbursement. The definition of a dependent for a Dependent Care FSA is any person who either:

  • may be claimed as a dependent on your tax return and who is under age 13,
  • may be claimed as a dependent on your tax return and who requires full-time care because of physical or mental incapacity, or
  • is your spouse and is physically or mentally incapable of caring for himself or herself

  Proof of the dependent's age and tax status must be submitted with the enrollment form for the Dependent Care FSA. Proof of the dependent care provider's tax identification number or social security number is also required before a claim will be processed.

  Using Your Account

  For quick and easy access to your FSA account, please download the mobile app: Benefits by Wex

  Reimbursement

  To receive reimbursement, you can file a claim in your online account or the WEX benefits mobile app. Simply upload an itemized bill for the dependent care, and such other information as WEX requires including the dependent care provider's tax identification number or Social Security Number. When the claim is approved, you will be reimbursed up to the full amount of your eligible expense, not to exceed the amount accumulated in your Dependent Care FSA. Claims take approximately three weeks to process.

  You should submit all reimbursement claims during the Plan Year. Claims must be submitted no later than 120 days after the end of the Plan Year. However, if you terminate employment or your coverage ends during the Plan Year, you must submit your claims within 120 days after your termination of employment or coverage end date.  Only expenses incurred during the plan year and prior to the date your employment or coverage ends are eligible.

  Claim submissions may be submitted to:

  WEX
  Website: http://wexinc.com/
  Mobile App: Benefits by Wex
  Mail: P.O. Box 2926 Fargo, ND 58108
  
  Claim inquiries: 1-866-451-3399

• Account Information

  Please download the mobile app: Benefits by Wex for quick and easy access to your FSA account.

  Similarly, you can obtain account information such as account balance, claims status, printable forms, etc. by creating an account online at www.wexinc.com.   

  If you have questions or need assistance:

  Wex (formerly Discovery Benefits)
  Participant Services
  Phone: 1-866-451-3399
  Email: customerservice@wexhealth.com