Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Enrolling in a Flexible Spending Account

FSAs allow you to pay for eligible medical and dependent care expenses using pretax dollars you contribute on an annual basis. You may enroll in a Health Care FSA only if you are enrolled in the Anthem Gold or Kaiser medical plans with UR that isn’t eligible for a Health Savings Account. You may enroll in dependent care FSA regardless of your medical plan coverage.

Find an FSA that Works for You!

There are two types:

  • Health Care FSA: Used to pay for services not covered by your medical, dental or vision plan such as copays, coinsurance, deductibles, prescription expenses, lab exams and tests, contact lenses and eyeglasses.
  • Dependent Care FSA: Used to pay for day care expenses associated with caring for elder or child dependents that are necessary for you or your spouse to work or attend school full-time. You may not use your Health Care FSA to pay for dependent care expenses.

Health Care FSA

  • Contribute up to $3,200 per year, pretax.
  • Receive a debit card to pay for eligible medical expenses.
  • Eligible expenses include medical copays, coinsurance, deductibles, eyeglasses and some over-the-counter medications.
  • Submit claims up to March 31 of the following year for expenses from January 1 to December 31.
  • If you do not spend all the money in this FSA by March 31, per IRS regulations, unused dollars will be forfeited for pretax contributions.

Dependent Care FSA

  • Contribute up to $5,000 per year, pretax, or $2,500 if married and filing separate tax returns.*
  • You must submit claims and be reimbursed if you enroll in this FSA. The funds must be available in your account.
  • Can only be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses including day care, after-school programs and elder care programs.
  • Submit claims up to March 31 of the following year for expenses from January 1 to December 31.
  • If you do not spend all the money in this FSA by March 31, per IRS regulations, unused dollars will be forfeited for pretax contributions.

*Note: For Highly Compensated Employees, the maximum contribution amount is lower.