Health Care Spending Account

The State, not the Trust, administers this plan, which is available to all permanent employees who are eligible for health care coverage, who have completed their initial probationary period, whether or not they are enrolled in a health, dental or vision plan.

It isn’t just for medical bills!

The Health Care Spending Account is a negotiated benefit that helps members pay for health-related expenses with tax-free dollars. Health-related expenses include eligible dental and vision expenses (along with prescription drugs, hearing needs, etc.). You can use the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) to reimburse your and your eligible dependents’ health-related expenses that are:

• Not covered under any medical or dental care plan;
• Eligible for, but not used as, a tax deduction; and
• Incurred during the calendar year in which you participate in the Health Care Spending Account.
  

Eligible Expenses

Eligible expenses generally include health care expenses for you as well as your spouse and dependent children. Here are examples of expenses eligible for reimbursement:

• Copayments, deductibles and other expenses that are not paid for by medical and/or dental coverage
• Expenses in excess of the annual or lifetime limits under dental coverage
• Vision care expenses like contact lenses, contact lens cleaning solution, and glasses not covered by vision insurance
• Laser vision or eye correction surgery
• Hearing aids and batteries
• Prescription drugs not paid for under any medical plan
• Orthodonthia

Expenses Not Covered

• Certain expenses are not eligible for reimbursement from the HCSA, including:
• Medical and dental premiums
• Cosmetic procedures
• Cosmetic surgery
• Expenses incurred before the effective date of your participation
• Teeth whitening/bonding
• Vision service contracts and
• Vision warranties.

The examples of eligible and ineligible expenses listed here are only a guide. Contact the IRS for a copy of Publication Number 502 (or access the IRS.GOV ) for a complete listing of eligible and ineligible expenses.

Before participating in the HCSA, you should carefully consider what your eligible expenses might be. Reviewing your expenses from previous years can help. Once you have estimated the amount of your expenses, you may then determine how much to contribute to your HCSA. Under federal law, any money that you put into your HCSA must be used for expenses incurred during the Plan Year in which it was contributed. Review the information from the State for more information, and consider this valuable program.

Use it or Lose it

You must use all the money in your accounts during the year (for example, January 1-December 31, 2011) in which you set money aside. Any money left in your accounts at the end of the plan year (December 31) must be used by March 15. Typically, eligible expenses are for services provided during the plan year; however, the two month and 15 day grace period does apply.

Have Questions?

Call Flex Save toll-free: 800-525-9252, or contact the plan sponsor (the State of Ohio Benefits Administration) at 800-409-1205.

Updated August 2010