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Benefits
Flexible Spending Account - Health Care

SU offers benefits-eligible employees the opportunity to contribute pre-tax dollars to a Health Care Flexible Spending Account administered by EBS-RMSCO.

Benefit Design

The Health Care Flexible Spending Account allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible health care expenses for you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code and the cafeteria plan) that are not covered as eligible medical or dental expenses under any other health plan. Please note that expenses for your domestic partner or his or her children will not be eligible for reimbursement under your Health Care Flexible Spending Account unless they qualify as your dependents for federal income tax purposes.

The advantage of a Health Care Flexible Spending Account is that you do not pay any federal, state, or social security (FICA) taxes on the money you contribute to it. You can contribute from $100 to $5,000 annually to this account, automatically deducted in equal installments from your paychecks before taxes are calculated. The taxes you save and the effect on your paycheck will depend on your personal situation (e.g., your household income, tax bracket, and the amount you contribute to the account).

All benefits eligible employees may enroll in the Health Care Flexible Spending Account upon hire. You can change the amount you elect for the next calendar year annually during Open Enrollment, prior to the beginning of each plan year. During the plan year you may change your contribution only if you experience a qualifying event such as marriage, divorce, birth, adoption or a change in employment status for you or your spouse.

IRS regulations require that you use the money in your Health Care Flexible Spending Account for eligible expenses incurred in the plan year during which the contributions are made. Health care expenses are considered to be "incurred" when the health care service is provided, and not when you are billed for or pay for the expenses.

You are not permitted to carry forward contributions made in one plan year to a later plan year. Any remaining balance in the account at the end of the plan year will be forfeited. Therefore, it is important that you estimate your health care expenses carefully before electing your contribution amount. The plan year runs from January 1 to December 31.

If you waive dental coverage, SU will contribute $100 to this account for you in addition to any contribution that you make. Total contributions cannot exceed $5,000.

Reimbursement Process

EBS-RMSCO administers the Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts.

  1. You incur eligible expenses and pay bills as you normally would.

  2. You submit the claim form, receipts, and any additional required information to EBS-RMSCO to request pre-tax reimbursements from your health care account.

  3. You receive reimbursement from EBS-RMSCO.

  4. You will have until April 30 of the following plan year to submit claims for expenses incurred during the plan year January 1 - December 31.

  5. Checks are processed once a week if cumulative expenses submitted total $25 or more. After December, the $25 minimum is waived and all expenses submitted are reimbursed weekly for eligible claims from the year prior.

NOTE: The IRS has ordered that over-the-counter items classified as "drugs and medicine" will not be eligible for reimbursement through your health care flexible spending account unless EBS-RMSCO has on file a prescription or Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) from your physician. This rule went into effect January 1, 2011. See "Covered Expenses - Detailed List for 2012" in the Helpful Links section below.

Automatic claims transfer (ACT) is available for medical and prescription drug claim reimbursement. ACT is a feature whereby certain out-of-pocket expenses are automatically reimbursed to you from your flexible spending account. If you would like to enroll in this option, please contact EBS-RMSCO at 1-800-327-7130.

If you choose not to enroll in the ACT option, you may submit receipts and check the status of your account through the EBS-RMSCO web site. Another option is to complete the Health Care Flexible Spending Account Form and mail it with required documentation to EBS-RMSCO, Inc., Claims Department, PO Box 2330, Blasdell, NY 14219 or via fax to (877) 256-7228.

Subject to applicable COBRA rights, if you terminate or otherwise become ineligible for benefits during the year, you will have until April 30 of the following year to submit eligible expenses for reimbursements.

Helpful Links

Questions? Contact the HR Service Center at 443-4042 or e-mail hrservic@syr.edu.

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The web pages summarize your Syracuse University benefit options. Every effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate. However, the programs are governed by legal documents and insurance contracts. If there is any difference between the information on these web pages and the official documents and contracts, the official documents and contracts will rule. Our benefits are governed by current laws and operated according to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. We will notify you if changes in plans are necessary to comply with the law or with IRS regulations.

Employees electing to participate in the SU benefit plans are bound by the terms of the governing Plan documents. If you have any questions regarding the plans, you may request a copy of the Plan document from the Plan Administrator by contacting the HR Service Center at the number indicated at the end of this page.

As is the case with all benefits offered by SU, (1) the Plan Administrator has the discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the Plan and such interpretation will be binding on all interested parties to the fullest extent permitted by law, and (2) the University reserves the right to modify or terminate the Plan at any time.