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.