WageWorks is now the claims administrator for employees’ FSA and HRA/VEBA accounts
As of Jan. 1, WageWorks is the claims administrator for employees’ Minneflex flexible spending (FSA) accounts and HRA/VEBA accounts.
Most employees received a WageWorks Health Care debit card
If you enrolled in health care coverage during open enrollment, you should have received a WageWorks Health Care debit card in the mail at home. After you have activated your card, you can use this card to pay for eligible health care expenses from your FSA or HRA/VEBA accounts (see below).
Accessing 2013 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s)
If you set up a 2013 FSA (Flexible Spending Account) health care account during open enrollment, you can submit claims for reimbursement for health care expenses incurred in 2013 any time after Jan 1, 2013.
- Health care expenses: To submit requests for reimbursement from your FSA account, use the WageWorks Pay Me Back Claim Form. You have access to the entire amount of money you specified during open enrollment, even though the money is deducted from your paycheck throughout the year. You can use your WageWorks debit card to pay for eligible 2013 health care expenses by swiping your card at the checkout. (Be sure to choose “credit,” even though the card is a debit card.)
If you set up a 2013 FSA dependent care account during open enrollment, you can submit claims for reimbursement for dependent care expenses incurred in 2013 any time after Jan 1, 2013.
- Dependent care expenses: To reimburse yourself for dependent care expenses, use the WageWorks Pay Me Back Claim Form - Dependent Care. Information on completing this claim form is located on the first page of the form. (Please be aware that you cannot use your WageWorks debit card to pay for dependent care expenses.)
Accessing 2012 FSA and HRA/VEBA accounts
Because WageWorks is now the City’s administrator, you can no longer submit claims to last year’s claims administrator — Optum Health — even though you incurred the expense in 2012. WageWorks will process 2012 Minneflex and HRA/VEBA claims when the hold period ends on Jan. 13, 2013. (The hold period is needed to finalize the transfer of account balances to WageWorks.)
Submit remaining 2012 FSA claims and HRA/VEBA claims to WageWorks, beginning Monday, Jan.14. Claims submitted before January 14 will likely be denied in the hold period.
- For health care FSA and HRA/VEBA claims, use the WageWorks Pay Me Back Claim Form. Do not use your new WageWorks debit card to pay for 2012 expenses.
- For dependent care FSA claims, use the WageWorks Pay Me Back Claim Form - Dependent Care
- If you wish to use your WageWorks Health Care Card for the HRA/VEBA account, you must wait until Jan. 14 and you must adjust your account setting. (To do this, visit www.wageworks.com or call WageWorks at 855-428-0446 and let WageWorks know that your HRA/VEBA account needs to be set to “Spend It.”)
Need details?
Please read the Flexible Spending Account QuickStart Guide detailing how to access, use and manage your account.
What are these accounts?
- FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts) are optional accounts employees set up during open enrollment to set aside money, before taxes, to pay for eligible health care expenses. These are “use it or lose-it” accounts — any money that is not used by the annual deadline is forfeited.
- HRA/VEBA Accounts (Health Reimbursement Arrangement/Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association) are not “use it or lose-it” accounts. Funds in your HRA/VEBA account can be carried over from one year to the next. Funds in this account come from deposits the City of Minneapolis makes to help you cover out-of-pocket health care expenses.
Published Jan. 3, 2013