Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

A Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows you to set aside tax-free dollars each year for health care expenses not covered by insurance. You may use these funds to pay for eligible health care expenses incurred by you, your spouse, and your qualified dependents.

What are the benefits?

• Pre-tax contributions reduce your taxable income.
• The easiest way to pay for everyday out-of-pocket eligible health care expenses with tax-free money.
• Your total annual Health Care FSA contribution amount is available immediately at the start of the plan year.
• You can carry over up to $610 remaining in your account from one plan year to the next, so there is minimal “use-it or lose-it” risk.
• Multiple self-service tools are available to easily manage your Health Care FSA and payment card transactions.

• Use the tax-savings calculator or annual expense estimate worksheet to help determine how much you should contribute per year.
• Your annual contribution is deducted pre-tax from your paycheck in equal amounts throughout the plan year and deposited into your Health Care FSA.
• As eligible health care expenses are incurred, you can either use your payment card to pay at the point of purchase or submit a request for reimbursement.
• Manage your account 24/7 via the Optum Financial mobile app or Optum Financial online account. 

Visit the Optum Financial microsite to view resources, and access the member portal. Use the member portal or Optum Financial app to manage your account 24/7.

Most full-time or part-time state and university employees are eligible to participate in a Health Care FSA.

Ineligible employees:

• Employees who are classified as fellows, scholars, and research assistants in the University of Wisconsin System, as well as limited-term employees, student hourlies, per diems, and other temporary employees, are not eligible.

• Employees who are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) are not eligible. See the Health Savings Account and Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account for benefit options.

*The contribution limit applies on an employee-by-employee basis. Thus, $3,050 is the max contribution each employee may make per plan year, regardless of the number of other individuals (spouse, dependent, etc.) whose medical expenses are reimbursable under that particular employee’s Health Care FSA. If two spouses are each an employee eligible for their own Health Care FSA, each spouse may elect to make contributions of up to $3,050 to his or her own Health Care FSA. This applies even if both participate in the same Health Care FSA, sponsored by the same employer, as long as they each have their own accounts because they are both employees.

Expenses:

• For 2023 benefit period, you must incur all eligible expenses by December 31, 2023.
• For 2024 benefit period, you must incur all eligible expenses by December 31, 2024.

Claims:

• For 2023 benefit period, you must submit all reimbursement requests by March 31, 2024.
• For 2024 benefit period, you must submit all reimbursement requests by March 31, 2025.

Review all claims and provide any required substantiation by December 31 each year. 

An eligible expense is a health care service, treatment, or item the IRS states can be paid for without taxes. Eligible expenses can be incurred by you, your spouse, or qualified dependents. 

See the medical expense eligibility tool for a partial list of eligible expenses. For the complete list, visit www.IRS.gov and see IRS Publications 502 and 969.

Tracking Eligible Expenses

You should keep all your receipts and pertinent documentation to prove your Health Care FSA was used for eligible medical expenses. If you pay for anything other than eligible expenses with your Health Care FSA the amount will be taxable, and you will be required to repay the amount or pay an additional tax penalty.

To ensure accounts are being engaged with each year, ETF has set a minimum annual contribution and account balance for certain pre-tax savings accounts.

Learn how to enroll in a pre-tax saving account during open enrollment, as a new hire, or when you have experienced a qualifying life event.

You will receive a welcome brochure in the mail from Optum Financial.