Benefits Plans - Flexible Spending Accounts

Looking to enroll in an FSA?

If you are a new hire or newly eligible, use this forms to enroll in an FSA:

2012 Flexible Spending Account Deduction Authorization Form (accounts with a 2012 effective date*)

FSA Publications

Over-the-Counter Drugs/Medicines

  • You need a prescription from your doctor to receive reimbursement from your Health Care FSA for the purchase of eligible over-the-counter (OTC) drugs/medicines.
  • You cannot used your debit card to purchase OTC drugs/medicines.

For a list of eligible health care expenses, including OTC drugs/medicines that require a prescription for reimbursement and for which you cannot use your debit card, visit the PayFlex/HealthHub website.

Register Your Account Online

  • To submit a claim online you first need to register. Go to the PayFlex/HealthHub website for University of Michigan faculty and staff at: umich.healthhub.com.
  • Click Register on the homepage. Enter your 8-digit UMID as your Member ID (not your Social Security Number) and then enter your zip code. Complete the online registration form.

FSA Information

Deadlines for FSA Claims for Reimbursement
2011 Expenses

Only eligible expenses incurred on or after your 2011 effective date* are reimbursable from your 2011 FSA.

  • You can incur eligible expenses up to March 15, 2012
  • You must file claims for your 2011 expenses by May 31, 2012
    1. Check your 2011 account balance. 
      Go to the PayFlex/HealthHub website:
      umich.healthhub.com
      If you have not registered your account online, click Register. Enter your UMID as your Member ID (not your Social Security Number). Your UMID is the 8-digit number on your University of Michigan ID card (MCard). Follow the online instructions to complete the registration process.
    2. Make eligible purchases during the grace period, now through March 15, 2012.
    3. File claims on 2011 expenses by May 31, 2012.
      According to IRS regulations, any unclaimed funds in 2011 FSAs after the deadline will be forfeited. 
      See Claims for additional information.

     
2012 Expenses

Only eligible expenses incurred on or after your 2012 effective date* are reimbursable from your 2012 FSA.

  • Account deductions continue until December 31, 2012
  • You can incur eligible expenses up to March 15, 2013
  • You must file claims for your 2012 expenses by May 31, 2013

*Effective Date: If you enroll during Open Enrollment, your FSA is effective January 1. Otherwise your account becomes effective the first of the month following the date the enrollment form is received by the HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team, your date of hire, or the date you become newly-eligible, whichever is later. For example, if your date of hire is March 1, and your Flexible Spending Account enrollment form is received March 10, your account becomes effective April 1. Only eligible expenses incurred on or after your effective date through March 15 the following year are eligible for reimbursement from your current year FSA. You must re-enroll each year you with to participate.

FSA Overview

The university's Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars for certain out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses, thus lowering the amount of income tax you will pay while providing more value for every expenditure you make.

The university offers two types of accounts:

  1. Health Care Flexible Spending Account
  2. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

How the Accounts Work

Managing a Flexible Spending Account is simple. Each year, you set aside an amount you reasonably predict you will spend on health care and work-related dependent care and contribute this sum on a pretax basis into the appropriate Flexible Spending Account. Your contributions to FSAs do not reduce your pay for determining your life insurance, travel accident insurance, long-term disability, or retirement benefits provided by the university.

Savings Calculator

The university's claims processor, PayFlex/HealthHub, provides an online FSA Calculator to help you determine how much to contribute to your FSA account, and lets you know how much you can save by using pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health care and/or dependent care expenses.

Contribution amounts are reported to PayFlex monthly at the end of the month in which the payroll deduction is taken.

Then, as you incur eligible expenses, you simply submit the required documentation to PayFlex.

PayFlex/HealthHub will usually reimburse all claims for eligible expenses within ten business days from the date it receives your request.

An important difference to remember:

  • You can file claims for amounts totaling your entire annual health care contribution from your Health Care Flexible Spending Account at any time during the year;
  • To receive a reimbursement from your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, you must have accumulated sufficient contributions to cover your claim at the time your request is made.

Visit the PayFlex/HealthHub website at: umich.healthhub.com

Next: Eligibility and Enrollment

Limitations
The University of Michigan in its sole discretion may modify, amend, or terminate the benefits provided with respect to any individual receiving benefits, including active employees, retirees, and their dependents. Although the university has elected to provide these benefits this year, no individual has a vested right to any of the benefits provided. Nothing in these materials gives any individual the right to continued benefits beyond the time the university modifies, amends, or terminates the benefit. Anyone seeking or accepting any of the benefits provided will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the benefits programs and the university's right to modify, amend or terminate them.