Effective Leaders

You may have unclaimed balances available in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA).  Please read this notice in its entirety.  An unclaimed balance may arise from either or both the 2020 and/or 2021 FSA contributions.  Typically, FSAs are a use-it-or-lose-it benefit plan, meaning that you lose the money you contributed if you don’t claim it for reimbursement by the end of the traditional grace period.  Also typically, you cannot change your election mid-year without also having a qualified change in your status.  
However, the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (“Act”) provides increased flexibility for Medical and Dependent Care FSAs.  Our plan has adopted the outlined changes below under the Act with the ultimate goal of assisting participants who might have otherwise lost their contributions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

12-Month Extension of Grace Period for Medical and Dependent Care FSAs
The grace period for both our Medical and Dependent Care FSA for the plan years ending in 2020 and 2021 is extended to 12 months after the end of each plan year.  You can incur eligible medical expenses and eligible dependent care expenses dated within a 12-month period after the end of the plan year (versus the traditional grace period of 2 1/2 months after the end of the plan year) and claim those expenses for reimbursement from your unused balances.  For example, if you have an unused balance from 2020, you can still incur expenses dated through December 31, 2021, and claim them for reimbursement against your 2020 balance.  After this period of temporary relief, the plan’s Medical and Dependent Care FSA grace period will return to the 2 1/2 month grace period.

Election Changes Without a Change in Status
For the plan year ending in 2021, you can make prospective election changes (i.e., enroll, discontinue, increase or decrease your contribution amount) to modify your Medical and/or Dependent Care FSA contributions without a change in status.  Note, this does not apply to benefits other than Medical and Dependent Care FSAs.

What should you do next?
1. Log into your ProBenefits account to check your balance.  You can access your account through the webportal or by downloading their mobile app.

2. Look for any qualified expenses that you have already or will incur between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.  Submit a claim to ProBenefits for reimbursement of those expenses.  Claims can be submitted faxing/emailing this Claims Form to ProBenefits or by uploading photos of the receipts through the mobile app.  Claims for 2020 must be submitted by December 31, 2021.  Claims for 2021 must be submitted by December 31, 2022.

3. Consider your current 2021 election and email the Benefits Team if you want to make any prospective changes.

We hope this notice helps you make the most of your FSA benefit.  Let us know if you have any questions.