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Flexible Spending

 
 

 

By electing to set aside dollars in your flex-spending account, you can pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses on a pre-tax basis, including deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance for yourself, your spouse, and your dependents. 

My Flex Account Login

The default user name is the first letter of your first name followed by your full last name followed by the last 4 digits of your social security number.  All lower case no spaces.   Your default password is the same as your default user name. 

Coverage

All non-temporary St. Louis County employees are eligible to enroll in flexible spending after one full calendar month of employment.

Each year you will choose to participate in St. Louis County's Flexible Spending Plan.   The program could produce real tax savings to you, but it does require that you plan for any anticipated expenses for the entire plan year.  Once the Plan Year begins, you may not make any changes to either the allocation of monies or accounts without a qualifying family status change event.   Your choices and the amounts you allocate to them will depend solely on the needs and expenses of you and your family.  All unclaimed contributions will be forfeited.   A grace period will occur each year between January 1 and March 15th.  Expenses incurred during the grace period will first be reimbursed with any unclaimed flex funds from the prior year and then reimbursed with any current year flex funds.  

Medical Expenses eligible for reimbursement

Flexible Spending Program Booklet

Cost

2018 maximum annual contribution amounts:

$  2,500 Dependent Care Account, married filing separately
$  5,000 Dependent Care Account, married filing Jointly
$  5,000 Dependent Care Account, Single
$  2,650 Unreimbursed Medical Expense Account
$13,840 Adoption Account

The choices and the amounts allocated to each category must be made each year prior to the first day of the year.  Each of the funds created by your election are separate and distinct from the others.  Amounts allocated for Dependent Care Account funds may not be used for any medical expenses or adoption expenses, Medical Account funds cannot be used for any dependent care or adoption expenses, Adoption Account funds cannot be used for any medical expenses or dependent care expenses.

Forms

 

2021 Flexible Spending Enrollment Form (Use this form to START one of the three available flex accounts)

 

2021 Flexible Spending Amendment Form (Use this form to CHANGE one of your existing flex accounts)

 

TIP:  Flexible Spending expires on 12/31 every calendar year.  If you participated in flex in 2020, you will not participate in flex in 2021 unless you enroll(ed).  

 


Medical Necessity Form
Paper Reimbursement Form

 

 

2020 Plan Year Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Updates

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) provides employers with the option to relax some of the rules with regards to FSAs in order to increase flexibility for employees.   The CAA and the St. Louis County Board have approved these changes to the 2020 flex plan year:

 The maximum age for a qualifying child under the dependent care flex (DCAP) account is increased from 13 to 14 for plan year 2020.
  The grace period for spending 2020 Flex account funds (Dependent Care and Health) is extended from 3/15/21 to 12/31/21.   

 

2021 Plan Year Flexible Spending Account (FSA) FAQs

The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) provides employers with the option to relax some of the rules with regards to FSAs in order to increase flexibility for employees.  This flexibility is typically only allowed within 30 days of a qualifying life event but the qualifying life event requirement has been lifted by the CAA and the St. Louis County Board for plan year 2021. 

1.      What changes can I make? St. Louis County is amending its Plan Document to allow the following prospective (going forward) changes to health and dependent care FSAs for the 2021 Plan Year: Ø  Enroll in or increase current election Ø  Reduce current election Ø  Cancel current election You cannot reduce your election to less than what you have already been reimbursed or contributed, whichever is higher.  Example: During Open Enrollment, you made an annual Health FSA election of $2,000. As of May 26, 2021 you contributed $900 and reimbursed $1,300. You cannot reduce your Health FSA election to less than $1,300.
2.      Why can’t I make a retroactive change?   Regulations do not allow retroactive changes nor reimbursement of contributions.
3.      How can I check my current FSA balance and claims status? You can view this information through your online flex account .  If you have trouble accessing your account, you can contact Superior USA directly at flexservices@superiorusa.com or 218.529.2477.         
4.      How can I change my 2021 FSA election? You will need to complete and submit the 2021 Flexible Spending Amendment form.  If you are not currently enrolled in your FSA for 2021 you will need to complete and submit the 2021 Flexible Spending Enrollment form. 
5.      What is the deadline for making changes? Due to payroll processing, forms must be received by the Friday prior to a pay week and may be submitted at any time during 2021. 
6.      How do I know what type of expenses are eligible? The St. Louis County flexible spending page has a listing of the most common expenses. Click on the eligible expenses link. If you have questions about an expense that isn’t listed, you can reach out to Superior USA for assistance.  See question 3 for contact info.
7.      I had an unexpected expense this week and would like to increase my FSA election to cover this. If I submit my form today, will I be able to get reimbursed? Per the regulations, any change must be prospective. If you are enrolling for the first time, your enrollment will be effective as of your first paycheck deduction/flex contribution. You can be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred on or after your enrollment date. If you are increasing your current election, you can only be reimbursed up to your election amount (or available balance, if less) on the date of service. Example: During Open Enrollment you made an annual FSA election of $500. On July 1, 2021 you increased your election to $1,000. You incurred a $700 eligible expense (your first expense of the year) on March 15, 2021. Because your annual election as of March 15, 2021 was $500, you can only be reimbursed up to$500 for the March 15, 2021 expense.
8.      How many times can I change my 2021 FSA election? There is no limit to the number of times you can change your 2021 FSA election but changes submitted after 12/15/21 will not be timely or honored.  Because changes must be made prospectively, there may be limits to the changes you can make as well as reimbursement of expenses incurred before the effective date of the change. Please refer to questions 1 and 7 for more detail. Contact Superior USA (see question 3 for contact info) if you have additional questions.
9.      How long do I have to incur expenses through my 2021 FSA? The grace period for 2021 Dependent Care and Health FSA accounts would typically be 3/15/22 but the CAA and the St. Louis County Board have extended this grace period to 12/31/22. 
 10.   How do I find the answer to my question that is not included in this document? Please direct your question to menorb@stlouiscountymn.gov or 218.725.5056 and check the most recent version of this document posted at www.stlouiscountymn.gov/benefits to see if additional questions have been added.  

 

 

 

Contact

Beth Menor
Sr. HR Advisor - Benefits
218-725-5056
Email

Ashley Lehman
Information Specialist 
218-725-5012
Email

All contacts

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