Flexible Spending Account Client Links
Welcome! We are glad that you are a Flexible Spending Account participant. The Employers Association partners with your employer to provide this great employee benefit. We are here to answer your questions and handle the administration of your account.
What is a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)? It is a plan established by your employer that allows you to pay for a variety of healthcare needs, like insurance co-pays, deductibles and dental or vision care, and dependent care (child/eldercare) with pre-tax dollars.
Of course, not all FSAs are created equal! FSAs offered by The Employers Association are accessed by the “Benefits Card.” The Benefits Card allows you to pay for eligible expenses virtually anywhere a debit MasterCard is accepted.
Although paper claims are still an option, the Benefits Card makes using FSA dollars simple and easy. The Card deducts each transaction directly from your FSA account, so it’s as convenient as using an ordinary credit card. For convenience, account information is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Important FSA news/tips:
“The Internal Revenue Service has concluded that breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are medical care under Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code because, like obstetrical care, they are for purposes of affecting a structure or function of the body of the lactating woman. Therefore, if the remaining requirements of Section 213(a) are met (for example, the taxpayer’s total medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income), expenses paid for breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation are deductible medical expenses. Amounts reimbursed for these expenses under flexible spending arrangements, Archer medical savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, or health savings accounts are not income to the taxpayer. The Service will revise publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, to include this information.”
When the IRS officially approved the use of debit cards for FSA reimbursement; it did so only for expenses incurred at providers who were assigned “health-related merchant codes.” At that time, the IRS mandated that any non-medical provider who wanted to continue accepting the FSA Debit Card must implement a new software system that has the ability to recognize FSA eligible items at the point of sale. This program will not allow cardholders to use their card to purchase anything that is not an FSA reimbursable item.
Health FSA cards cannot be used at any store, vendor or merchant that does not have a health care-related merchant category code unless it has implemented a inventory information approval system (IIAS) that recognizes eligible and non-eligible expenses. This includes discount stores and grocery stores/supermarkets.
Participants who utilize one of the participating grocery stores or supermarkets will not be required to submit receipts for any approved purchases.
Participants who choose to shop at one of the grocery stores or supermarkets not utilizing the IIAS system or the 90% rule will not be able to use their FSA debit card to make a purchase. The purchase in a non-participating location must be paid for out-of-pocket and reimbursed using the manual claim process.
As of January 1, 2011 according to current IRS regulations, All over the counter medication including vitamins and supplements (Advil, Tylenol, allergy medicine, calcium, iron, fish oil, etc.) are not eligible items under a Flexible Spending Account without a physician’s statement on file indicating a diagnosis and specific instructions. However, participants will still be able to use the card for non-medical or drug items such as contact lens solution, gauze, band aids, etc.
Need help? To contact an FSA specialist at The Employers Association: fsa@employersassoc.com or call (704)522-8011 or (800)528-2398 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST.
If you have not created an online account please follow these instructions:
1. Go to www.benefitspaymentsystem.com
2. Click on “Create Account”
3. Enter your First Name and Last Name
4. Enter your Employee ID. This is your Social Security Number.
5. Skip the Employer ID and enter your FSA card number.
6. Create a username and password, along with the security questions requested. Make sure you write this information down for future use.
7. Provide your email address.
8. Click on “Submit.”
If you have already created an account access your account information at www.benefitspaymentsystem.com. Please call if your password has expired.
Need a claim form to submit receipts for reimbursement? FSA claim form