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Human Resources

Flexible Spending Account

What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?

Flexible Spending is a tax-exempt program regulated by the IRS. With Flexible Spending, you can set aside money from your pretax salary for medical, dental, and vision expenses each year. In a separate FSA you may also set aside money for dependent-care expenses.

What can I use the funds for?

Funds from your FSA can be used to pay for eligible expenses (copayments, coinsurance, prescriptions, glasses, contacts, dental expenses, eligible medical supplies, etc.). You can pay for eligible expenses with your healthcare FSA benefit card or pay for them out of pocket and be reimbursed after you submit a claim to DMBA – either online or by mail (see reimbursement section below). DMBA has provided an eligibility list that you can access by scrolling to the bottom of their website. You can also check out the fsastore.com for items that are eligible for FSA purchase.

How do I start?

Enrollment for an FSA starts at open enrollment and goes to the end of the year. If you did not sign up for FSA during your regular open enrollment election you will need to submit a Flexible Spending Enrollment form found in the DMBA Form Library. You choose a dollar amount for the year you enroll. Whatever you elect is divided evenly between your remaining paychecks for the calendar year and deposited into your FSA. YOU NEED TO ELECT AN AMOUNT EVERY YEAR. Once you have elected an amount, you can manage and view your account by signing into your DMBA account.

What are the draw backs?

This is a use it or lose it account. The IRS sets a yearly limit on how much money can roll over from year to year in your healthcare account. The limit this year is $640, meaning only $640 from your healthcare account will roll over at the end of the year, anything over that will be lost. All claims for the year need to be submitted by March 15th of the following year. (See "How to file for reimbursement" section.)

Important deadlines

  • You have until December 31st to sign up for the next year's elections.
  • All healthcare claims need to be turned into DMBA by March 15th of the following year.
  • All dependent care expenses need to be submitted to DMBA by December 31st.

Can I use my FSA for dependent care?

Dependent care FSA is a separate account from your healthcare account. This is still a tax exampled account and will pull from your pretax salary. You can use these funds for any dependent care expenses from a qualified child care provider. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DEPENDENT PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS. Once you have spent your elected amount you will need to submit a reimbursement claim (see "How to file for reimbursement" section.) For additional questions on how this works you can contact DMBA or BYU Benefits services.

How to file for reimbursement?

  • If you pay with an FSA pay card you will not need to submit for reimbursement. Make sure to keep all receipts in case of audits.
  • Claims can be filed online through DMBA's website or via paper form in the mail.
  • A paper FSA reimbursement form can be accessed online on DMBA's website. There, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the forms library on the bottom right. You will then find the Flexible Spending Account Forms as a section header.
  • Include an Explanation of Benefits from the insurance company for medical/dental claims such as:
    • Co-pays for doctor/dental visits
    • Therapy
    • Emergency room services
    • Medical equipment
    • Surgery or maternity or hospitalization
    • Emotional illness services
    • Radiology (X-Rays)
    • Dental work
    • Include receipts for prescriptions, glasses, contacts, contact lens solutions, hearing aids, etc.
    • For dependent child care include receipt from care giver with tax number of day care provider

For more information on FSA, what to use it on, or how to submit a claim, please see DMBA.com or contact Benefit Services at 801-422-4716.