Benefits

Flexible spending account FAQs

• When may I enroll?
• How do I receive more information?
• What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
• Is an FSA right for me?
• What is a Healthcare FSA?
• What is a Dependent Care FSA?
• What are eligible expenses?
• What is covered for Healthcare FSA?
• What is covered for Dependent Care FSA?
• What is the myFBMC Card®?
• What are the myFBMC Card® advantages?
• If I enroll in an HFSA, will I receive the myFBMC Card®?
• How can I activate the myFBMC Card®?
• How do I use the myFBMC Card®?
• What happens if I fail to send in any necessary documentation?
• What types of services would not require documentation?
• What types of services would require documentation?

When may I enroll?

You may enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during your new hire eligibility period or during the annual open enrollment held in the fall.

How do I receive more information?

For more information about FSAs, review a copy of the Miami-Dade County Benefits Handbook, which is available at www.miamidade.gov/benefits or review the FAQs on the Open Enrollment website. If you have a question about FSAs, please go to www.myFBMC.com or call FBMC Customer Care at 1-800-342-8017.

What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?

An FSA is an account you set up to pre-fund your anticipated, eligible medical services and supplies and dependent care expenses that are normally not covered by your insurance. You can choose from a Healthcare FSA, Dependent Care FSA, or have one of each. With either FSA, you benefit from having less taxable income in each of your paychecks, which means more spendable income to use toward your eligible medical and dependent care expenses.

Is an FSA right for me?

If you spend $260 or more on eligible medical expenses or $260 or more on eligible dependent care expenses during your plan year, you may save money by paying for them with an FSA. The amount is deducted in small, equal amounts from your paychecks during the plan year.

• You decide the amount to deposit.
• You are reimbursed for eligible expenses before income and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes are deducted.
• You save income and FICA taxes each time you receive wages.
• Determine your potential savings with a Tax Savings Analysis by visiting the “Tax Calculators” link at www.myFBMC.com.
  

What is a Healthcare FSA?

A Healthcare FSA is used to pay for eligible medical expenses incurred by you and your eligible dependents which aren’t covered by your insurance or other plan. These funds are set aside from your salary before income and FICA taxes are deducted, allowing you to pay your eligible expenses tax-free. It can be used for expenses such as co-payments, deductibles, and qualified dental, vision, prescription and medical costs. The annual maximum contribution for a Medical Expense FSA is $5,000.

What is a Dependent Care FSA?

The Dependent Care FSA is a great way to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as after school care, baby-sitting fees, daycare services, nursery, and preschool. Eligible dependents include your qualifying child (age 12 or under), spouse and/or relative. These funds are set aside from your salary before income and FICA taxes are deducted, allowing you to pay your eligible expenses tax-free. You may contribute up to $5,000 (single and head of the household or married and filing jointly) or $2,500 (married and filing separately) to a Dependent Care FSA each year. Note that the myFBMC Card® cannot be used for Dependent Care FSA reimbursement.

What are eligible expenses?

Different expenses are covered by each type of FSA. Below are examples of each; a complete list is at www.myFBMC.com.

What is covered for Healthcare FSA?

• Acupuncture
• Ambulance service
• Birth control pills and devices
• Chiropractic care
• Contact lenses (corrective)
• Dental fees
• Diagnostic tests/health screening
• Doctor fees
• Drug addiction/alcoholism treatment
• Drugs
• Experimental medical treatment
• Eyeglasses
• Guide dogs
• Hearing aids and exams
• In vitro fertilization
• Injections and vaccinations
• Lasik surgery
• Nursing services
• Orthodontic treatment
• Over the Counter  items (Doctor's note required)
• Prescription drugs to alleviate nicotine withdrawal symptoms
• Smoking cessation programs/treatments
• Surgery
• Transportation for medical care
• Weight-loss programs/meetings (doctor prescribed)
• Wheelchairs
• X-Rays

What is covered for Dependent Care FSA?

• After school care
• Baby-sitting fees
• Daycare services
• Elder care services
• In-home care/au pair services
• Nursery and preschool
• Summer day camps

What is the myFBMC Card®?

The myFBMC Card® is a convenient Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA) reimbursement option that allows FBMC to electronically reimburse eligible expenses under Miami-Dade County’s plan and IRS guidelines. When you swipe the myFBMC Card® to pay for eligible expenses, funds are electronically deducted from your HFSA account.

What are the myFBMC Card® advantages?

You can use the myFBMC Card® for certain eligible Over-the-Counter (OTC) expenses (ex: band-aids) at drugstores. Other advantages include:

• instant reimbursements for health care expenses, including prescriptions, co-payments and mail-order prescription services.
• instant approval of known co-payments for medical and prescription drug coverage.
• convenient, cash-less card payment for authorized co-payments and purchases.
  

If I enroll in an HFSA, will I receive the myFBMC Card®?

Yes, two cards will be sent to you in the mail (in a plain envelope); one for you and one for your spouse or eligible dependent. You should keep your cards to use each plan year until their expiration date.

Remember, you can go to www.myFBMC.com to see your account information and check for any outstanding Card transactions.

How can I activate the myFBMC Card®?

To activate your myFBMC Card® anytime visit www.myFBMC.com. You may also call 1-888-514-6845.

How do I use the myFBMC Card®?

After activating your card, for eligible expenses, simply swipe the myFBMC Card®. Whether at your health care provider or drugstore, the amount of your eligible expenses will be automatically deducted from your Healthcare FSA. Prescription and certain OTC purchases with the card are only accepted at registered merchants (i.e. stores like Publix, Wal-Mart, Target, and CVS). For all other qualified expenses, such as medical co-payments, the myFBMC Card® will function normally. To find out if a pharmacy near you accepts the card, please refer to the IIAS Store List at www.myFBMC.com.

A complete list of Frequently Asked Questions about FSAs and the myFBMC Card® are also available at  www.myFBMC.com. If you have further questions, contact FBMC Customer Care at 1-800-342-8017 (Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET).

What happens if I fail to send in any necessary documentation?

If you fail to send in the requested documentation for a myFBMC Card® expense, you will be subject to:

• withholding of payment for an eligible paper claim to offset any outstanding myFBMC Card® transaction.   
• suspension of your myFBMC Card® privileges.   
• the reporting of any outstanding myFBMC Card® transaction amounts as income on your W-2 at the end of the tax year.
  

What types of services would not require documentation?

• Co-payments under the Miami-Dade County health plan or prescription plan   
• Mail-order prescriptions made at Medco  
• Multiple co-payments   
• Prescription & certain OTC* items purchased at IIAS certified merchants
  

What types of services would require documentation?

• Co-payments under a spouse’s Medical Plan or Prescription Drug plan
• Dental expenses
• Prescription & certain OTC* items purchased at 90% merchants
• Durable medical equipment
• Eyeglasses, contacts lenses or Lasik surgery

* Note: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama changes the way some OTC items qualify for Healthcare FSA reimbursement. Effective Jan. 1, 2011, Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs and medicines are no longer eligible without an order, directive or script from the attending provider and cannot be purchased using the myFBMC® card. Visit www.myFBMC.com for an updated list of eligible items.

Back to Top Page Last Edited: Mon Sep 19, 2011 4:18:23 PM