Active Employees

Read This Now if You Are Enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

As the new year approaches, here are some important things to keep in mind if you are enrolled in a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HFSA) and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DFSA) for 2015 and/or 2016.

Keep track of these key dates for your 2015 and/or 2016 FSA(s):

Key Dates What You Need to Know/What You Need to Do
December 31, 2015
  • Last day to incur dependent care expenses that can be reimbursed from your 2015 DFSA.
January 1, 2016
  • The new Plan Year begins.
  • If you have a balance in your 2015 HFSA: Use it — do not lose it. Remember, you can use your balance to pay for eligible healthcare expenses you incur during the 2015 HFSA "grace period" (January 1, 2016 through March 15, 2016).
    • If you re-enrolled in an HFSA for 2016: We recommend that you do not use your Your Spending Account™ (YSA) card to pay for eligible healthcare expenses until you exhaust your 2015 HFSA balance. Instead, submit your HFSA claims to YSA online or by fax or mail. Once your 2015 balance is $0 or the grace period ends (whichever is sooner), use your YSA debit card to pay for 2016 eligible expenses or continue to submit your claims to YSA online or by fax or mail.
    • If you did not re-enroll in an HFSA for 2016: You must submit your claims for eligible expenses to YSA; your YSA debit card will no longer work.
  • If you do not have a balance in your 2015 HFSA or if you are newly enrolled in an HFSA for 2016: Start using your HFSA to be reimbursed for eligible healthcare expenses. You can use your YSA debit card or submit claims to YSA online or by fax or mail.
  • Start using your 2016 DFSA to be reimbursed for eligible dependent care expenses.
March 15, 2016
  • 2015 HFSA grace period ends. This is the last day to incur eligible healthcare expenses that can be reimbursed from your 2015 HFSA.
April 15, 2016
  • 2015 FSA claims submission deadline. All your 2015 HFSA and/or DFSA claims must be submitted to YSA by this date.
    • Important! Do not wait until the last minute to submit your final 2015 claims to YSA. It may take up to 10 days for a claim to be processed, so be sure to submit your claim far enough in advance of the April 15 deadline to ensure there is sufficient time to resolve any issues that may affect your claim.
    • After April 15, 2016, no additional documentation will be accepted for incomplete or invalid 2015 claims. This means that:
      • If you submit a claim on April 15 but the documentation is incomplete or invalid (for example, a receipt is missing or a faxed submission is illegible), the claim will be denied and you will not be reimbursed for your expense.
      • However, if you submit a claim on April 15 and all documentation is complete and valid, your claim will be processed and you will be reimbursed.

Here are some additional important reminders about your HFSA and/or DFSA.

Over-the-Counter Prescription Requirement for HFSA Expenses

To be reimbursed for an over-the-counter (OTC) drug purchase from your HFSA, you must provide a written prescription from your doctor and an itemized receipt. The prescription must include the following: date, dosage, patient's name, provider's signature and address, and specific name of the prescribed item.

OTC prescriptions are valid as follows:

  • Prescriptions for a single fill are valid for the lesser of 12 months or the end of the Plan Year (which includes the 2½-month grace period for submitting eligible healthcare expenses).
  • Prescriptions that include refills are valid for a maximum of 12 months from the date on the prescription.

Did You Know?

For faster claims reimbursement, you can submit receipts directly to YSA online.

How Do You Get Reimbursed?

Getting reimbursed through your HFSA and/or DFSA is easy. Here are the simple steps to take:

Step 1: Incur a reimbursement-eligible expense. If you use your YSA card to pay for a healthcare expense, you can skip Step 2 and Step 3. But make sure you keep your original itemized receipt and/or Explanation of Benefits (EOB). You may be asked to substantiate your claim at a later date.

Step 2: Log on to the Your Benefits Resources™ (YBR) website and select the link to access the YSA website.

  • Once on the YSA website, select "Create Health Care Claim" via the drop-down menu on the "Health Care" tab or under "Take Action" on the main Homepage.
  • Choose how you want to send your itemized receipts or EOBs by checking "Upload" or "Fax or mail."
  • Follow the prompts to enter your claim online. If you have chosen to submit your claim by fax or mail, be sure to print the claim form (cover sheet) and sign and date it.

Step 3: Submit your completed form (if required) and itemized receipt or EOB by the date indicated.

  • Online: Follow the onscreen instructions to upload an electronic copy or photo of your itemized receipt or EOB.
  • Fax: 1-888-211-9900
  • Mail:
    YSA
    P.O. Box 785040
    Orlando, FL 32878-5040

What Documentation Do You Need to Be Reimbursed From Your HFSA?

To process your reimbursement from your HFSA, you need to include an EOB from your healthcare carrier or a copy of your itemized receipt for the expense. Eligible receipts must contain:

  • Name of the service provider or retailer;
  • Date of the service or purchase;
  • Identification of the drug or product, or a description of the service;
  • Purchase amount for each product or service; and
  • Total purchase amount.

Hang on to Those Receipts!

If you cannot provide proof of an HFSA claim with a receipt, your HFSA card will be deactivated and you will be asked to either submit payment to cover the expense or submit substitute receipts for any other eligible out-of-pocket expense.

Enrolled in a DFSA? Use Provider Certification!

YSA's Provider Certification feature can help make filing your DFSA claims easier:

  • Print your online DFSA claim form from the YSA website.
  • Have your dependent care provider sign the Provider Certification section.
  • When you file your claim, just submit the signed form. No receipts needed!

Important: Ensure that your dependent(s) qualify for a DFSA under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines. This means your dependent child must be under the age of 13.* For more information, contact YSA via a link on YBR or call the Alcatel-Lucent Benefits Center at 1-888-232-4111, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time (ET), Monday through Friday.

*Age limit does not apply if your dependent is mentally or physically incapable of self-care, lives with you for more than half of the calendar year and has not been able to provide more than one-half of his or her own support for the calendar year.

You can also manage your HFSA and/or DFSA on the go from your Apple® or Android™ mobile device with the YSA Reimburse Me mobile app.

Use the app to:

  • Save time. Submit claims for reimbursement, quickly and conveniently, from anywhere, anytime.
  • Save money. Forget the postage! Submit your documentation by uploading a picture of your receipt (taken with or stored on your mobile device) with your claim.
  • Get immediate access. View account information on demand, including balances, card transactions and claim status.

Getting the app is easy. Just locate the Reimburse Me app in your mobile device's app store and download it onto your device.

Questions about your FSA(s)? Contact YSA via a link on the YBR website or call the Alcatel-Lucent Benefits Center at 1-888-232-4111, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday.

Your Benefits Resources and Your Spending Account are trademarks of Alight Solutions.