Flexible Spending Accounts

A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) allows you to pay for many out-of-pocket  expenses with tax-free dollars. Eligible health care expenses include medical, dental and vision copays, prescription drugs, and deductible expenses. To view a list of eligible expenses, please click here.

At the beginning of the plan year, you will have access to the full annual amount of your health care FSA. There is no need to wait until the account is paid to use the funds. If you enroll in an HCFSA, you will receive a HealthEquity Visa card to pay for eligible health care expenses.

• In 2023, you may contribute up to $3,050 to a HCFSA.
• In 2024, you may contribute up to $3,200 to a HCFSA.

A Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) is a pre-tax benefit account used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, and child* or adult daycare. Click here to view a list of eligible dependent care expenses.

Unlike HCFSAs, DCFSAs only allow you to receive reimbursement up to the actual amount in your account at the time the claim is filed. The HealthEquity Visa card cannot be used for dependent care expenses.

You may contribute up to $5,000 per household into a DCFSA, or $2,500 if married and filing separately. The maximum for employees earning more than $135,000 is $1,500 per year.

To learn more about how a DCFSA can save you money, please click here.

* up to age 13

The HRA plan offers access to a national network (Choice POS II Open Access) of providers and facilities and out-of-network benefits (at higher costs). The plan has a $400 per person health fund - paid by UM - to help pay for up front medical and pharmacy expenses, including the $1,500 per person deductible, up to $4,500 per family. 

In-network preventive care is free and bypasses the deductible. However, prescription drugs do not bypass the deductible, which must be met prior to copays.* 

The maximum fund a family will receive is $1,200. The unused funds roll over each year as long as you remain in this plan. Click here to view a presentation explaining how the HRA Plan works and here for a Quick Start Guide.

Note, if you participate in both the Aetna HRA medical plan and a health care FSA, you will receive one WageWorks Visa card with both HRA and FSA funds on the card. HRA funds will be used for eligible medical and prescription expenses before flexible spending account funds are utilized.

* A pharmacy expense is a medication, prescribed by a licensed provider, which requires a prescription to obtain, is run through the Aetna insurance, and is applied to the deductible. Over the counter items are not considered pharmacy expenses in the HRA.

• For an Aetna medical/pharmacy expense, you can swipe your card at any eligible healthcare provider or retailer and funds from the HRA will automatically be used first until all funds are exhausted (unless you have FSA funds left over from the previous year to spend down). Once HRA funds are exhausted, funds from your FSA will be used secondarily.
• When purchasing or requesting reimbursement for qualifying expenses other than an Aetna medical or pharmacy, the FSA dollars will be used.

Please note: When swiping your HealthEquity card, funds will automatically be pulled from the HRA first (unless you have FSA funds left over from the previous year to spend down). So, if seeking reimbursement for an expense other than medical or Rx, please submit a Pay Me Back claim on your FSA account via the HealthEquity Member portal to ensure funds are used from your FSA rather than the HRA.

• With the HRA paying first (unless you have FSA funds left over from the previous year to spend down), it ensures that UM monies for Aetna medical/pharmacy are spent first.
• Secondly, it ensures that FSA monies are sure to be available for all other items (dental, vision, etc).

The University’s FSA plans offer a grace period that runs between January 1st and March 15th of each year.  The grace period allows you to continue to incur expenses in the current year while using up any remaining balance from your prior year’s FSA. 

For your healthcare FSA, if you swipe your FSA card during this period, please remember that the card will pull any remaining balance from the prior year before using current year FSA funds.

If you submit paper claims, they will also pull any remaining balance from the prior year before using current year FSA funds.

If you’ve used up your prior year balance with grace period claims but still have prior year claims left to file, please contact HR-Total Rewards for assistance with reversing the grace period claims.  By doing this, you can be reimbursed for your prior year claims from your prior year funds and your grace period claims from your current year funds.

If you participate in both the Aetna HRA medical plan and a health care FSA, you will receive one WageWorks Visa card with both HRA and FSA funds on the card. HRA funds will be used for eligible medical and prescription expenses before flexible spending account funds are utilized.

2024 Funds
Start spending: January 1, 2024
Incur eligible expenses by: March 15, 2025
Submit claims by: June 15, 2025

2023 Funds
Start spending: January 1, 2023
Incur eligible expenses by: March 15, 2024
Submit claims by: June 15, 2024

2022 Funds
Start spending: January 1, 2022
Incur eligible expenses by: March 15, 2023
Submit claims by: December 23, 2023*

*change as a result of the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and National Emergency

Yes, if you enroll in a healthcare flexible spending account (HCFSA). If you also elect the HRA medical plan, you will use the same card.

You can only make changes to your HCFSA account if you experience a qualifying life event and report the event in Workday within 30 days of the event.

You will have access to your HCFSA funds once your enrollment is active. There is no need to wait until the account is paid in full to use the funds.

Five pieces of information are required to help ensure the approval of your claim. They are:

• Patient: Person who received the service or who the item is for. For retail store purchases, this may be excluded.
• Provider: Who delivered the service or if a purchase, where was the item purchased.
• Date of Service: Date services occurred or date item was purchased.
• Type of Service: Detailed description of what service or product was paid for. Bag Tag is sufficient for prescriptions.
• Financial Responsibility: The amount paid for the service or product and/or the portion not reimbursed through your insurance carrier.

Please ensure that your documentation contains all the above information when submitting a claim.  Review the Claim and Card Use Verification Checklist.

Unlike HCFSAs, a dependent care FSA (DCFSA) only allowed you to receive reimbursement up to the actual amount in your account at the time the claim is filed.

No, the Visa card cannot be used for dependent care expenses.

A dependent care FSA is for children up to age 13.

Yes. You can use a DCFSA to care for a dependent elderly parent. Examples of eligible expenses are adult daycare centers, elder care, and transportation to and from eligible care (provided by your care provider).

Healthcare FSA

Dependent Care FSA

Your Healthcare FSA and Orthodontia

Eligible Healthcare Expense Payment Options

WageWorks EZ Receipts Mobile App

The FSA Store

HRA Plan Overview (in conjunction with an FSA)

Claim & Card Use Verification Documentation Checklist

FSA Health Care Reimbursement Form

FSA Dependent Care Reimbursement Form

1-877-924-3967
www.wageworks.com

305-284-3004
www.miami.edu/benefits/ask