HRD > Benefits Administration Services

Flexible Spending Accounts

The state of Ohio, through Fringe Benefits Management Company (FBMC), provides you with IRS tax-favored Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to stretch your health care and dependent care dollars. Enrollment does not roll over into subsequent plan years so you must re-enroll each plan year.

Flexible Spending Account Features:
• Tax-free reimbursement of eligible IRS-approved expenses;
• Per-pay-period deposits (typically 24 pay periods) from your pre-tax salary;
• Savings on federal, state and local taxes; and
• Security of paying anticipated expenses with your FSA.

The state of Ohio offers two flexible spending accounts:

• Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), and
• Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA).

UPDATE: EZ Reimburse Card
The IRS requires debit card suspension, when substantiating documentation is not provided for expenses requiring such. A grace period of 60 days is provided to allow debit card users reasonable time to submit the required documentation. If your monthly FBMC statement and/or an online account message has requested substantiating documentation, assure that your documentation is received by FBMC within the 60 day grace period. Documentation must be accompanied by the EZ Reimburse Transmittal Cover Sheet, which may be printed from this web site (see “forms” section). Instructions for submission are provided on the form. FBMC mailed the first group of EZ Reimburse debit card suspension letters to affected program participants the week of June 2. The letter advises that FBMC must receive substantiating documentation by June 17, 2008. Debit cards of affected program participants will be suspended effective July 3, 2008, should substantiating documentation not be received by the deadline date.

The EZ Reimburse debit card has enabled health care spending account participants to access their account benefits more quickly to pay for eligible expenses. The card reduces the need to submit substantiating documentation for state of Ohio health plan copayments and eligible services/purchases from Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) Certified providers. To determine if your provider is IIAS-Certified, log on to the Fringe Benefit Management Company (FBMC) Web site at www.myfbmc.com and select the “Resources” tab at the upper right of the Web page. Select “IIAS certified listing” from the drop-down list.

When a participant chooses not to use an IIAS certified provider, he or she may receive a statement indicating that substantiating documentation needs to be provided to FBMC. An alert asking for documentation may also appear when a participant accesses his or her account online at www.myfbmc.com. If you receive a statement or an alert on your FBMC account screen requesting substantiating documentation for an expense other than a state of Ohio health plan copay, you must send the documentation within 60 days. Note: You do not need to send documentation for state of Ohio health plan copays.

If you do not submit documentation to FBMC within 60 days, your EZ Reimburse Card may be deactivated, as required by IRS guidelines. The EZ Reimburse Transmittal Cover Sheet, found at http://das.ohio.gov/HRD/FSA/FlexibleSpendingAccount.html, must accompany submitted documentation.

You may contact FBMC at 1-800-342-8017, should you have questions or need assistance in determining whether your provider is IIAS-Certified. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. EST.

What Costs Are Involved?

How Does the Debit Card Work?

The EZ Reimburse® MasterCard® Card is a stored-value card, which means that the funds you opt to deduct for your paycheck will automatically be loaded onto this card. It is a convenient reimbursement option for the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) that allows FBMC to electronically reimburse you for eligible expenses under your employer’s plan and IRS guidelines. It can be used for health care expenses. The EZ Reimburse Card can be used for the health care spending account. The IRS has not approved the debit card for use with the dependent care spending account. It works like a debit card. All you need to do is swipe your card at your participating retailer to purchase eligible items from your health care spending account. The card does not use a PIN so there is no need to remember yet another four-digit code It’s versatile. The card can be used at retail pharmacies, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Walgreens. Click here to go to FBMC's Web site for an updated list of retailers and providers accepting the card. There is a $20 annual fee. The fee is paid by the employee, but it is automatically deducted from your health care spending account with pre-tax dollars. Keep your receipts! You still may need to provide receipt documentation on occasion. For example, documentation may be required for purchases that are made for some office (doctor, dentist, vision provider) visit fees, prescription copayments, and at some retailers. For more details about the EZ Reimburse Card, click here and refer to Page 8.

Direct Deposit

You may want to enroll in direct deposit to expedite the time of your reimbursement. FSA reimbursement funds are automatically deposited into your checking or savings account within 48 hours of your claim approval. There is no fee for this service. You do not have to wait for postal service delivery of your reimbursement. However, you will receive notification via mail that the claim has been processed. To apply, complete the Direct Deposit Enrollment Form available from your agency’s payroll/personnel office and at www.myFBMC.com, or call FBMC Customer Service at 1-800-342-8017. Please note that processing your direct deposit enrollment may take four to six weeks.

For questions about flexible spending accounts, please contact FBMC
Customer Service at 1-800-342-8017.