Overview
Set aside pre-tax funds to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses for medical care, dependent daycare and caregiving expenses.
About flexible spending accounts
A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is funded with money you contribute and set aside from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis. UC offers two types of FSAs:
- Health FSA — for qualifying medical expenses for you and your eligible family members
- Dependent Care FSA — for eligible daycare or caregiving expenses for your child (up to age 13) or eligible adult dependent
You may use your pre-tax FSA funds to pay for eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses for you and your eligible dependents or eligible daycare or caregiving expenses.
Eligible expenses are subject to IRS guidelines and requirements.
Effective dates of these accounts are subject to payroll deadlines.
WEX Health (formerly known as Discovery Benefits) is the administrator for UCSF's FSA plans.
Requires re-enrollment during the annual open enrollment period to continue participation into the next calendar year.
Types of FSAs
You may contribute between $180 to $2,750 pre-tax annually. Effective date is subject to payroll deadlines and expenses can only be incurred and submitted after the enrollment date.
- If you are enrolled in the UC Health Saving Plan, you cannot participate in this plan
- If both you and your spouse are UC employees, you may each contribute up to $2,750
- All money you elect to contribute may be used to cover eligible out-of-pocket expenses that are subject to IRS guidelines and requirements
You have until April 15 of the following calendar year to submit claims for reimbursement. It's important to keep your receipts for any and all reimbursement claims you submit.
IRS has a "use-it-or-lose-it" provision. If you have leftover money in your health FSA account, you can rollover up to $550 to the next plan year. Remaining funds are forfeited, so you must budget carefully. The rollover doesn't occur until around mid-May of the following year.
Requires re-enrollment during the annual open enrollment period to continue participation into the next calendar year.
You may contribute between $180 to $5,000 pre-tax annually. Effective date is subject to payroll deadlines and expenses only can be incurred and submitted after the enrollment date.
- $2,500 is the max contribution amount if you are married, filing separately.
- All money you elect to contribute may be used to cover eligible out-of-pocket dependent daycare or caregiving expenses that are subject to IRS guidelines and requirements
You will have a grace period that extends through March 15 of the following year to incur eligible expenses against your leftover balance.
IRS has a "use-it-or-lose-it" provision. There is no rollover for this account. Any unused funds are forfeited.
Requires re-enrollment during the annual open enrollment period to continue participation into the next calendar year.