Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Learn how you can save tax dollars on eligible health care expenses not covered by your medical, dental, or vision plan through the Health Flexible Spending Account.

The Health Flexible Spending Account is a voluntary program established under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 105 that lets you pay for eligible health care expenses not covered by your insurance through pre-tax salary reductions.

Eligibility

You can participate in the Health Flexible Spending Account program if you are an active employee who:

• Is appointed by the university to work at least 50% time for 1 year or more (full benefits eligible employee)
• Is appointed by the university to work 100% time for 3 months or more (mid-level benefit eligible employee)
• Is appointed to work at least 43.75% time (CORE eligible benefits employee)
• Has worked 1,000 hours in a 12-month period

Period to Enroll

• When you are first hired into an eligible position
• When you transfer to an eligible appointment
• If you have a qualified family status change
  • To update family status information, log in to UCPath and navigate to Employee Actions > Health & Welfare > Life Events/Benefit Changes
• During annual open enrollment
• If currently enrolled and want to be a plan participant the following year, you must re-enroll during Open Enrollment

For details, read the Summary Plan Description (PDF).

Note: The effective date of enrollment is when the deduction comes out of salary. Only eligible expenses incurred after enrollment would be considered.

Contribution limits

• Review the Health FSA Summary Plan Description (PDF) and the DepCare FSA Summary Plan Description (PDF) for current annual minimum and maximum contribution limits.

Claims and reimbursement

You can file a claim easily with: 

The Benefits Mobile App

You can file claims and submit documentation in seconds using the Benefits Mobile App. Our app is the quickest and easiest method for filing claims and submitting documentation. Just use your phone’s camera to take a picture of documentation and upload it on the spot. The app also allows you to: 

• Get instant notifications on the status of your claims. 
• Check your balance and view account activity. 
• Report a card as lost or stolen to keep your account secure. 
• Determine 213(d) eligible expenses by using the eligible expense scanner and your phone’s camera. 

Online account 

You can also file claims through your online account by clicking the “File A Claim” button within the “I Want To” menu on the homepage of your online account. 

Note: You may also file a claim by submitting a Claim Form and supporting documentation via fax or mail.

Eligible expenses

It is your responsibility to ensure that expenses are eligible. For details, refer to:

• Discover Benefits Eligible Expenses
• WageWorks Eligible Expenses
• IRS Publication 502 (PDF)
• Health FSA Calculator
• Dependent Care Summary

Note: You can't claim eligible expenses reimbursed from your Health Flexible Spending Account as a tax credit on your income tax return.