2014
Public Employees Benefits Board
(PEBB)
Flexible Spending Arrangement
Enrollment Guide
How you can use your pre-tax earnings
to pay for health care expenses
Table of contents
Who is eligible and how can a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) help
me? ...............................................................................................................
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How does the FSA work? …………………………………………………………………………..
3
Grace period…………………………………………………………………………………………..
3
When can I enroll? .........................................................
3
When does my enrollment begin? …………………………………………………………….
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What are eligible health care expenses? .………………………………………………….
When is additional documentation required? ………………………………………
Ineligible health care expenses …………………………………………………………….
Orthodontia …………………………………………………………………………………………
Stockpiling …………………………………………………………………………………………..
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How do I get reimbursed? …………………………………………………………………………
The Flexi-Card …………………………………………………………………………………..
Valid merchants ………………………………………………………………………………….
Using your Flexi-Card™ for OTC medicines and drugs ………………………..
Additional cards ………………………………………………………………………………….
Grace period and the Flexi-Card™ ……………………………………………………….
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When can I make changes? ………………………………………………………………………
Approved leave of absence (also called Leave Without Pay) ……………….
Transfers between state agencies and higher-education institutions…..
Continuation coverage …………………………………………………………………………
What happens if employment terminates? ………………………………………….
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What if Flex-Plan Services denies a claim or change request? ……………….
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How to contact Flex-Plan Services
Business hours: Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., PST
Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Mail:
1-800-669-3539
[email protected]
1-425-451-7002 or toll-free fax 1-866-535-9227
Flex-Plan Services, PO Box 53250, Bellevue, WA 98015
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Who is eligible and how can a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) help
me?
The Health Care Authority (HCA) contracts with Flex-Plan Services, Inc. to manage the Flexible Spending
Arrangement, also known as a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), to process claims, and provide
customer service for Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) enrollees. The FSA is available to public
employees eligible for PEBB benefits who work at state agencies, higher-education institutions, and
community and technical colleges as described in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 182-12-114.
A Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) is an employer-sponsored benefit that enables you to set aside
money from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis to pay for your out-of-pocket health care costs. Here are
some of the ways you can benefit from an FSA:
• Setting aside a portion of your pay with an FSA reduces your annual taxable income and helps you
pay for out-of-pocket health expenses large and small.
• You can set aside as little as $240 or as much as $2,500 for the calendar year. The full amount you
set aside for your FSA contribution is available on your first day of coverage for expenses.
• Your FSA helps you pay for deductibles, copays, coinsurance, dental, vision, and many other
expenses. (See list of eligible expenses on page 5.)
• You can use your FSA for your or your qualified tax dependent's health care expenses, even if they
are not enrolled in your PEBB medical or dental plan.
How does the FSA work?
You estimate your expenses for the plan year and enroll in an FSA for that amount.
The money deducted from your pay is divided by the number of paychecks you will receive in the plan
year.
Your election will be deducted from your paycheck throughout the plan year pre-tax, so you don’t pay
FICA (7.65%) or federal income tax (10-35%) on your elected dollars.
You cannot change your election after the plan year starts unless you experience a “qualifying event.”
Common qualifying events include birth, death, adoption, marriage, or divorce. Your election change
must be consistent with the qualifying event. See “When can I make changes?” on page 8.
Grace period
The account falls under the “use it or lose it” rule. This means you must incur services by March 15 of
the following plan year and use all elected funds by the end of that grace period. You must submit your
claims to Flex-Plan Services no later than March 31. After March 31, you forfeit any money left in your
account to the plan administrator, the Health Care Authority. Once the money is forfeited, you will not
be able to claim it.
If you reenroll for 2014, any claims incurred during the grace period (January 1, 2015-March 15, 2015)
will be applied to any unused funds from the 2014 plan year first. See “How do I get reimbursed?” on
page 6.
When can I enroll?
You may enroll in the FSA at the following times:
• No later than 31 days after the date you become eligible for PEBB benefits.
• No later than the last day of the PEBB annual open enrollment period, which is usually held in
November.
• No later than 60 days after you or an eligible family member experiences an event that creates a
special open enrollment during the plan year. See “When can I make changes?” on page 8.
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For each new plan year, you must reenroll to participate in an FSA. When you reenroll you can also
change the election amount you had the previous year. To continue your participation, you must enroll
before the end of the PEBB annual open enrollment period, even if you are not changing your annual
election amount. Some universities may require their employees to submit their enrollment forms to
their personnel, payroll, or benefits offices for processing. See the 2014 enrollment form for
instructions on where to submit your form.
When does my enrollment begin?
If you enroll during PEBB’s annual open enrollment period, your FSA is effective January 1 through
December 31 of the following year. If you enroll at any other time, enrollment begins the first of the
month after Flex-Plan Services receives and approves your enrollment form.
What are eligible health care expenses?
The health care FSA covers a wide variety of expenses. We’ve assembled a list of common expenses that
are eligible for reimbursement. Not all eligible items are on this list. For a more exhaustive list, go to
www.pebb.flex-plan.com. Items marked with an asterisk(*) are over-the-counter (OTC) medicines or
drugs that require a prescription for reimbursement.
Acne treatment*
Acupuncture
Allergy & sinus medication*
Antacids*
Antibiotic ointment*
Anti-diarrheal*
Antifungal foot cream*
Anti-gas medication*
Anti-itch cream/gel*
Antiseptic*
Asthma treatment*
Bandages/gauze
Birthing classes or Lamaze
Blood pressure monitor
Braces (knee, ankle, wrist)
Breast pump
Burn cream*
Chiropractic services
Coinsurance
Cold / hot pack
Cold sore treatment*
Cold/cough medication*
Compression stockings
Contacts & solutions
Contraceptives
Copays
CPAP machine
Crutches
Deductibles
Dental services
Diabetic supplies
Diaper rash ointment*
Digestive Aids*
Drug addiction treatment
Ear wax removal kits
Eye drops
Feminine anti-fungal/antiitch*
Fertility treatment
Flu shots
Hearing aids & supplies
Hemorrhoid medication*
Hormone therapy
Immunizations
Incontinence supplies
Individual counseling
Insect bite treatment*
Lab work
Lactation consultant
Lactose intolerance pills*
Laser eye surgery
Laxative*
Lice treatment products*
Medical records
Motion sickness relief*
Nasal strips
Naturopathic visits
Orthodontia
Orthotics
Oxygen and equipment
Pain relievers*
Physical exams
Physical therapy
Pregnancy test
Prenatal vitamins
Prescription drugs
Prescription glasses
Reading glasses
Respiratory treatments*
Saline nasal spray
Sleep aids & sedatives*
Sleep deprivation treatment
Smoking cessation products*
Smoking cessation programs
Speech therapy
Sterilization procedures
Stool softener*
Thermometer
Throat lozenges*
Vision care
Walker
Wart treatment*
Wheelchair & repair
When is additional documentation required?
Certain medical expenses are not reimbursable under a Health Care FSA unless a licensed health care practitioner states
that the service or product is medically necessary. Flex-Plan Services will need a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) for
these items to be reimbursed. The LMN is available on our website.
Air conditioner
Air purifier
Automobile modifications
Braille books
Breast augmentation
Breast reduction
Chronic disease selfmanagement program
(workshop and trainings)
Cosmetic procedures
Genetic testing
Home medical equipment
Humidifiers
Learning disability fees
Lumbar support
Massage therapy
Mole removal
Motorized scooter
Nutritionist expenses
Vitamins and supplements
Weight loss programs
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Orthodontia expenses
Unlike other FSA expenses, which are deemed incurred when the services are rendered, orthodontia expenses are
deemed incurred when paid. Therefore, only payments made during your eligibility period and plan year may be
reimbursed. Proof of payment to an orthodontic provider is required for reimbursement.
Stockpiling
IRS regulations prohibit you from purchasing a large quantity of any item in any one transaction. Buying more than
three items would be considered stockpiling and will not be reimbursed.
Ineligible Health Care Expenses
The following expenses are some that are not eligible under a health care FSA. Please do not submit claims for these
items.
Airborne (or other OTC immune support products)
Books
COBRA premiums
CPR classes
Electrolysis/laser hair removal
Finance charges
Funeral expenses
Gym membership
Hair transplant
Hygiene products
Imported OTC items
Imported prescriptions
Insurance premiums
Late fee
Marijuana
Massage chair
Mattress
Missed appointment fee
Hair growth products
Electric toothbrush/picks
Teeth whitening
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How do I get reimbursed?
Flex-Plan Services will send you claim forms when you enroll in the FSA. During the plan year, you may submit
requests for reimbursement to Flex-Plan Services for expenses you have incurred. You have several options for
submitting your claim to Flex-Plan Services. Choose from the options described below.
Please remember:
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For each claimed expense, documentation must show the provider’s name, name of the person receiving the
service or expense, date(s) of service, cost, and the type of expense or description of the service(s) you are
claiming. You can use bills from your providers or statements from your insurance company as documentation.
Do not submit copies of canceled checks or credit or debit card receipts.
Documentation of copies will not be returned.
Expenses must be incurred during the plan year and while you are an active participant in the plan.
Flex-Plan Services will not reimburse any expenses that were incurred before your effective date of enrollment.
An expense is “incurred” when the health care is provided or the eligible item is purchased – not when you are
billed, charged, or when you pay for the medical care.
Flex-Plan Services offers several convenient ways to submit your claim and documentation. Choose one of the
following:
• Online at www.pebb.flex-plan.com (you will need to create a log in and password)
• Fax to 425-451-7002 or toll-free 1-866-535-9227
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail forms and documentation to: Flex-Plan Services, Inc., PO Box 53250 Bellevue, WA 98015-3250
• Mobile App: you can submit a claim through their Flexi App, available on both Google Play and the App Store.
You can find the app by searching Flexi App or Flex-Plan Services.
Flex-Plan Services will process your claim within a few days and either make an electronic funds transfer into your
bank account if you enrolled in direct deposit, or mail you a reimbursement check.
Flex-Plan Services will provide you with a quarterly statement that shows your account balance. It is important to
read these statements carefully so you understand the balance remaining to pay for eligible expenses.
Remember, you want to spend all the money you have elected either by the end of the plan year or before the end
of the grace period.
The Flexi-Card™
The Flexi-Card is a convenient way to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses for you, your spouse, and your
qualified tax dependents including adult children (up to December 31 of the calendar year in which the child turns
26). Rather than filing a claim and waiting for reimbursement for your out-of-pocket eligible expenses, you may be
able to use the Flexi-Card™ to pay your provider directly for qualified medical care expenses.
Valid merchants
The card is accepted at participating merchants using the Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) and at
medical care merchants using the MasterCard® system. This includes:
• Most provider offices
• Dental and vision clinics
• Hospitals
• Mail order Rx programs
• Pharmacies and grocery stores*
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*Merchants that have implemented IIAS recognize when participants purchase FSA-eligible expenses. For an
extensive list of IIAS participating retailers please visit www.pebb.flex-plan.com and select IIAS Merchants. When
you use your Flexi-Card™ at these merchants you will not be required to submit a claim form or provide
documentation for your eligible expense.
Each time you swipe your Flexi-Card™, the provider receives payment and the expense is deducted from your FSA
balance. When you use your card for a copayment or at an IIAS retailer, you typically will not be required to
substantiate--provide documentation-- of your charge. This system allows Flex-Plan Services to electronically verify
the eligibility of your expense. Some IRS regulations require you to substantiate certain expenses. If you swipe your
card at non-participating retailers, documentation will be required. If any of your Flexi-Card™ charges require
substantiation, you will receive a summary of your card activity for those charges. Flex-Plan Services will email a
form to you at the beginning of each month. You must provide a valid email address in order to receive the FlexiCard™ when you enroll.
We recommend you always save your receipts and documentation until your claim is approved.
Using your Flexi-Card™ for OTC medicines and drugs
The Flexi-Card™ will not work for purchases of OTC medicines and drugs. To be reimbursed for OTC medicines and
drugs, choose one of the following methods:
Manually
Submit a prescription along with your claim to Flex-Plan Services in order to be reimbursed for any OTC
medications. The receipt or documentation from the store must include the name of the drug printed on the
receipt. This information must be provided by the store, not just listed by the participant on the receipt or on
the claim form.
Flexi-Card™
If you have your prescription on hand for the OTC medicines and drugs, then you can use your Flexi-Card™ at the
pharmacy. Present the card and prescription to the pharmacist and they will process your OTC transaction as a
prescription drug instead of an OTC medicine or drug. This will not affect the cost of the OTC medicine or drug,
but treat it as a prescription for eligibility purposes. If these steps are taken, the item will be considered fully
substantiated at the point of sale and no further documentation will be required.
Additional cards
You will receive one Flexi-Card™ when you first enroll. If you need more cards, you can request an additional card
for a spouse or dependent (in their name) at no cost. If your cards are lost or stolen, Flex-Plan Services charges a $5
fee, which is deducted from your FSA balance.
Grace period and the Flexi-Card™
The card will only debit from your current plan year election. If you wish to use the grace period, you must submit a
claim form to access the prior year balance when making purchases during the grace period.
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When can I make changes?
Changes require approval by Flex-Plan Services and must follow the rules in Washington Administrative Code 18208-199. You cannot make changes to your election during the plan year unless an event creates a special open
enrollment. The change in enrollment must be allowed under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and correspond to and be
consistent with the event that creates the special open enrollment. If an event occurs and you wish to make a
change, you must complete and submit the required forms along with evidence of the event that created the special
open enrollment, to your employer no later than 60 days after the event. Forms can be found at
www.hca.wa.gov/pebb.
The following events create a special open enrollment for eligible employees who want to make a change to their
FSA:
A. Employee acquires a new dependent due to:
• Marriage;
• Registering a domestic partnership if the domestic partner qualifies as a tax dependent;
• Birth, adoption, or when the subscriber has assumed a legal obligation for total or partial support in
anticipation of adoption;
• A child becoming eligible as an extended dependent through legal custody or legal guardianship;
or
• A child becoming eligible as a dependent with a disability.
B. Employee's dependent no longer meets PEBB eligibility criteria due to:
• A change in marital status;
• Dissolution of a domestic partnership, when the domestic partner qualified as a tax dependent;
• A dependent losing eligibility as an extended dependent or as a dependent with a disability;
• A dependent child turning age 26; or otherwise no longer meeting dependent child eligibility; or
• A dependent dies.
C. Employee or the employee’s dependent loses other coverage under a group health plan or through health
insurance coverage, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA);
D. Employee or an employee’s dependent has a change in employment status that affects the employee's or a
dependent's eligibility for the FSA.
E. A court order or a National Medical Support Notice requires the employee or any other person to provide
insurance coverage for an eligible dependent of the employee.
F. Employee or an employee’s dependent becomes entitled to or loses eligibility for coverage under Medicaid or a
state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
G. Employee or an employee’s dependent becomes entitled to or loses eligibility for coverage under Medicare.
Approved Leave of Absence (also called Leave Without Pay)
You may elect to continue your FSA participation while you are on an approved leave of absence because of one of
the following events:
• You are on authorized leave without pay from your agency;
• Your employment ends due to a layoff;
• You are an employee who reverted to a position that is not eligible for the employer contribution toward
insurance coverage;
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You are an employee appealing a dismissal action;
You are receiving time-loss benefits under workers’ compensation;
You are applying for disability retirement;
You are called to active duty in the uniformed services, as defined under the Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA);
You are on approved educational leave;
You are a faculty employee who is between periods of eligibility; or
You are a seasonal employee during an off season.
If your employer has approved a leave of absence and you will have at least eight hours of pay status as an
employee in a given month (or at least 5 percent of full-time for faculty) you may continue your FSA by making FSA
contributions to your employer:
• Pay your contributions during the leave to your payroll office, or
• Pre-pay your contributions before you go on leave through your employer.
If you are not using at least eight hours of pay status (or at least 5 percent of full-time for faculty) to maintain
your benefits, the PEBB Continuation of Coverage Election Notice will be sent to you and you may elect to
continue insurance coverage by self-paying the full premium (LWOP coverage). You may continue FSA
contributions on a post-tax basis by making FSA contributions to Flex-Plan Services:
• Pay your contributions during the leave directly to Flex-Plan Services, or
• Pre-pay your contributions to Flex-Plan Services before you go on leave. If you select this option, you must
arrange this before going on leave by completing the Flex-Plan Change in Status Form, available at
www.pebb.flex-plan.com or by calling Flex-Plan services at 1-800-669-3539.
If you are taking a leave of absence that qualifies as an approved Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or Uniformed
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA, or military) leave, you may cease all or a portion of
required contributions consistent with the requirements of the FMLA or USERRA. This choice will not affect your
ability to continue enrollment in PEBB’s other benefits (as provided by PEBB rules).
If you choose to discontinue contributions during the approved FMLA or USERRA leave, upon your return you may
elect to:
• Resume participation at the same amount elected at the start of the plan year, with a corresponding increase in
contributions for the balance of the plan year; or
• Participate at a reduced amount for the plan year, and resume the per-pay period contribution in effect before
the FMLA or USERRA leave.
To resume your FSA, you must fill out and send the Flex-Plan Change in Status Form to Flex-Plan Services no later
than 60 days after returning to work. If you submit your form more than 60 days after returning to work, Flex-Plan
Services will deny your request.
Transfers Between State Agencies and Higher-Education Institutions
If you enroll in an FSA and later change jobs and move to another Washington State agency, higher-education
institution, or community or technical college that offers PEBB benefits, your enrollment will continue if:
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Your new position is eligible for participation in the PEBB FSA;
There is no more than 30 days’ lapse in employment; and
You notify your new personnel, payroll, or benefits office and Flex-Plan Services of your transfer to avoid
unnecessary interruptions before the end of the current plan year. Your per-paycheck deductions will increase, if
necessary, to meet the annual contribution amount by the end of the plan year.
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Note: An agency transfer is not a qualifying event to change your health plan. You may not participate in an FSA and
enroll in a PEBB consumer-directed health plan (CDHP) with an HSA.
Continuation Coverage (including COBRA and Leave Without Pay)
A participant, his or her spouse, or qualified tax dependent may choose to continue the FSA if one or more of the
following qualifying events occur:
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Death of the participant;
Termination of the participant’s employment (other than for gross misconduct) or a reduction in hours;
Divorce of the participant; or dissolution or termination of a state-registered domestic partnership with a
domestic partner who qualified as a tax dependent; or
A dependent child loses eligibility for PEBB coverage.
When any of these occur, you or a family member must notify Flex-Plan Services. If, on the date of the qualifying
event, your remaining benefits for the current year are greater than your remaining contribution payments, FlexPlan Services will give each eligible family member the right to choose FSA continuation coverage. Each person who
elects FSA continuation coverage through Flex-Plan Services must do so no later than 60 days from the date FlexPlan Services provides the notice of this continuation right.
FSA continuation coverage will not extend beyond the current plan year, but may end earlier if you do not pay your
contributions within 30 days of the due date. Flex-Plan Services cannot reimburse you for expenses incurred during
any period of continuation until Flex-Plan Services receives your contributions for that period.
What happens if my employment terminates?
An FSA is an employee benefit, so except as noted in the section “Making a change,”, when your employment ends,
or you go on unpaid leave that is not approved FMLA or military leave, you can no longer contribute to your FSA.
This means that your participation ends on the last day of the month in which Flex-Plan Services received your last
contribution. You will only be able to claim expenses, up to your available funds, incurred while employed unless
you are eligible to continue coverage (WAC 182-12-133). Except as stated in the section “Continuation coverage
(including COBRA and leave without pay),” Flex-Plan Services will not reimburse any expenses incurred while you
were not actively enrolled in an FSA.
If you cease employment during the plan year, contact your personnel, payroll, or benefits office to find out if you
can request some of these options:
STOP –
Your final paycheck will have the normal deduction and your participation will cease. You
may be reimbursed only for services incurred on or before the termination date.
ACCELERATE –
You can authorize your employer to take future deductions from your final paycheck. This
final deduction will be pre-tax and you can participate in the plan to the extent
contributions are made.
COBRA –
Under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to continue participation through FlexPlan Services on an after-tax basis through COBRA. (see Continuation Coverage –including
COBRA and Leave Without Pay above)
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What if Flex-Plan Services denies a claim or change request?
You will receive written notice of any denied claims within seven days of receipt of the claim. The notification will
include the reasons for the denial, a description of any additional information needed to process the claim, and an
explanation of the claims review procedure. You may resubmit your claim to Flex-Plan Services with additional
information no later than March 31, 2015. If you wish to file an appeal, you must submit it within 30 days of
receiving the denial notice.
Your appeal must include:
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A statement outlining why you think your request should not have been denied
Your employer’s name
The date(s) of the services denied
A copy of your original claim
A copy of the denial letter you received
Any additional documents or information that supports your appeal
Flex-Plan Services will send you a written notice of the resolution of your appeal within 30 days. Appeals are
approved only if the extenuating circumstances and supporting documentation are within IRS regulations and the
document that governs the PEBB FSAs.
To file a first-level appeal with Flex-Plan Services, use one of the methods below:
Email:
[email protected]
Fax:
1-425-451-7002 or 1-866-535-9227
Mail:
Flex-Plan Services, P.O. Box 53250, Bellevue, WA 98015
If you receive a denial of your appeal from Flex-Plan Services and you disagree with that decision, you may submit a
second-level appeal to the PEBB Appeals Committee as described in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 182-16036. To file a second-level appeal with the PEBB Program, complete and submit the Request for Review/Notice of
Appeal form, which is available at www.hca.wa.gov/pebb. Please include a copy of the denial notice you received
from Flex-Plan Services with your appeal along with any supporting documentation. The PEBB appeals manager
must receive your notice of appeal no later than 30 days after the Flex-Plan Services decision on your appeal. Send
the form to:
Health Care Authority
PEBB Appeals
P.O. Box 42699
Olympia WA 98504-2699
You also may email the Health Care Authority appeals office at [email protected].
You must file both first-level and second-level appeals by submitting a written request by email, fax, or mail. Indicate
in the appeal whether it is a first-level or second-level appeal.
If the PEBB Appeals Committee affirms Flex-Plan Services’ denial and you disagree with that decision, you may
request a review by Administrative Hearing as described in WAC 182-16-050. The PEBB Appeals Manager must
receive your written request for an administrative hearing no later than 30 days after the PEBB Appeals Committee’s
decision on your appeal. To request an administrative hearing, submit a letter to the address listed above.
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