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FSA FAQs

1. How do I enroll in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?

For new employees.
Enroll within three months of your hire date by going to  My VU Benefits. Your FSA start date will be the first day of the month after three months of eligible employment.

For current employees. Your FSA enrollment will not roll over to the next calendar year. If you would like to continue an FSA for the next calendar year, you will need to make FSA elections during Open Enrollment or if you have a qulified life event (QLE). The FSA start date will be January 1 of the next calendar year. You can file and be reimbursed for claims for eligible services received on or after your FSA start date. Payroll deductions begin with the first paycheck after eligibility.


2. When can I file a claim?
You can file and be reimbursed for claims for eligible services received on or after your FSA start date.


3. When does my elected deduction start and how much is taken each paycheck?
Payroll deductions begin with the first paycheck after eligibility. For example, if you were hired on July 10, your payroll deductions would start with your November paycheck.

The amount you elect for your FSA will be deducted evenly from each paycheck for that year, beginning with the first paycheck after three months of employment.


 4. How do I access the money in my health and dependent care flexible spending account(s)?

For current employees. There are two ways to access money in your accounts.

1. For the Health Care FSA, you may also use the Benefit Express/WEX Visa card for eligible medical expenses.

2. For the Health Care FSA and Dependent Day Care FSA, you pay for eligible expenses out-of-pocket and then submit a claim form to be reimbursed from your spending account. To obtain claim forms, submit claims online and review your balance visit MyVU Benefits and click on the link (see schreen shot below). If you have additional questions, please call Benefit Express: 1.833.238.2639 select 4 for reimbursement accounts, then 1 for FSA accounts. 

FSA HRA

For former employees. You must register your account at myfsaexpress.com. For tips on registering see the registering quick guide. Note: The same claim form is used for the Flexible Spending Account and Health Reimbursement Account.


   5. What is the health care flexible spending card?
The health care flexible spending card issued by Benefit Express/WEX is a convenient way to pay for eligible, unreimbursed medical expenses. The money in your FSA is accessed when you swipe your card at the point of service; for instance, at a doctor's office or pharmacy. The health care card is not a credit card, although it carries the Visa logo for convenience.

YOU MUST KEEP ALL RECEIPTS WHEN YOU USE THE CARD. The IRS requires Benefit Express\WEX to verify that purchases made with the card were for eligible health care expenses. If the merchant does not transmit sufficient information at the time of purchase, you will be required to mail or fax receipts.

IF YOU HAVE UNVERIFIED EXPENSES FOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS, your card will be deactivated. At that point, you must provide receipts to verify those purchases in order for your card to be reactivated. It takes 48 hours to reactivate your card.


6. How do I use the health care flexible spending card?
You can use your health care flexible spending card to pay for eligible expenses almost anywhere you purchase health care services or products — providing the merchant is approved. Simply swipe the card at the register (select "Credit" if asked) and funds are deducted automatically from your available FSA balance.


7. Where can I use the health care flexible spendingcard, which merchants are approved?
The term "merchant" is used to describe a provider or retail store that accepts payment through the card network, which authorizes all health care flexible spending card payments. Each merchant who accepts card payments is assigned to a merchant category based on their line of business. The Internal Revenue Service controls where the health care flexible spending card can be used by approving merchant categories that represent merchants who are very likely to sell or provide eligible health care products and services. Card payments at all other merchant categories are prohibited and automatically declined through the card network. When the health care flexible spending card is used at any merchant who is assigned to an approved merchant category, the card payment is instantly authorized by the card network in the transaction amount (up to the account balance). Note that the card transaction is not approved as an eligible health care expense; that comes later.

  • IRS Restrictions on Health Care Flexible Spending Card Use. IRS guidelines require certain types of merchants be certified to accept FSA debit cards, including your Benefit Express/WEX health care card. The certification process is called Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS).
  • Businesses That Shouldn't Be Affected by IIAS. Doctor's offices, dentists, and vision care providers are not required by the IRS to be IIAS certified. Your card should work at these businesses.
  • Businesses That Are Affected by IIAS. Grocery, department, discount, online and warehouse stores. If these merchants are not IIAS certified, the IRS will not allow them to accept the Health Care Flexible Spending Card for payment.

8. What happens if I swipe my health care flexible spending card for an amount greater than the available balance?
If the account balance is not sufficient to cover the transaction amount, the transaction will be declined through the card network at the point of purchase. You will need to use another form of payment and then request reimbursement by submitting claim form for the amount that is available in your account.


9. What happens if I buy something with the health care flexible spending card that is not an eligible purchase?
The criteria for approving the transaction for payment are:

  • the card is activated
  • the account has a balance sufficient to cover the transaction amount
  • the merchant is likely to sell or provide eligible health care products and services

If a transaction is approved based on these criteria, money is transferred from your FSA to the merchant. Benefit Express reviews the information they receive from the point-of-sale for each card transaction. If the transaction cannot be verified after the review process, the unverified transaction will be listed on a letter sent to you from Benefit Express/WEX each quarter. You must either:

  1. provide a detailed receipt showing a) the name of the patient, b) date of service, and c) description of services provided
  2. submit a substitute receipt for another eligible unreimbursed health expense
  3. Send a payment to repay your account for the amount

10. Why do I need to save my receipts for health care flexible spending card transactions?
FSAs  are regulated by the Internal Revenue Service. Money in those accounts is not taxed as income and therefore can only be used for eligible expenses (medical or dependent care). If you are contacted by the IRS or Benefit Express/WEX to show proof that you have used those dollars appropriately, you must have receipts available to do so.


 11. What is Vanderbilt's plan year?
The plan year is January 1 to December 31.


 12. When is the deadline to use my 2023 FSA?
Your 2023 FSA funds will be available for use until March 15, 2024. You must submit your claims by April 15, 2024.