About Flexible Spending Accounts
Sometimes called “flexible reimbursement accounts,” flexible spending accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside money to pay for certain kinds of medical, dental, and dependent-care expenses before taxes are assessed on that income. Creating an online account is a great way to help manage your FSA. To create your new account visit www.flores247.com and click on “first time user” to get started.
Contributions are made throughout the calendar year, and eligible expenses must be incurred within that calendar year or within the grace period. If you don’t use all eligible funds from your account the remaining amount is forfeited. Typically, you pay your bill first and submit your receipts to Flores for reimbursement.
Watch a quick overview of flexible spending benefits
CARES Act Updates
The CARES Act (PDF), which took effect on March 27, 2020, now permits FSA and HSA reimbursement of over-the-counter products without the need of a prescription, including with menstrual products. See information about allowable over-the-counter expenses (PDF)
Eligibility
- Full- or half-time faculty or professional staff.
- Covers expenses for self, spouse, and dependent children.
- Your contributions will stop the last day you physically worked in a benefits-eligible position. Employees whose benefits-eligible position ends during the plan year have until May 30 of the following year to submit expenses incurred through their last day physically worked in the benefits-eligible position for both dependent care expenses and medical expenses.
- Please review the Summary Plan Description (PDF), the FSA Summary of Modifications (PDF), and the Wrap Summary Plan Description (PDF) for more eligibility and plan details and consult with Human Resources for specific situations.
Medical FSA
As an eligible employee, you can elect between a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $3,200 (2025) in a calendar year on a pre-tax basis for certain health care needs for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent children (up to the age of 26). Please note that you may not opt for a Medical FSA account if you are participating in an HSA medical plan. For more information, review the Health Care FSA Guide (PDF) and see a checklist on medical expenses that are FSA eligible (PDF).
Dependent Care FSA
Eligible employees can elect between a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $5,000 in a calendar year on a pre-tax basis for certain care needs of dependent children through the age of 12. For more information review the Dependent Care FSA Guide (PDF) and see a list of dependent care expenses that are FSA eligible (PDF).
Consult with your tax advisor regarding your limit.
- $5,000 per plan year (single or married, filing jointly)
- $2,500 per plan year (married, filing separately)
Grace Period
The University of New England has added a time extension at the end of the plan year during which you may incur eligible expenses and be reimbursed from your FSA. We have a 2.5 month grace period after our plan year of January 1 through December 31.
This means that you have until March 15 to incur medical or dependent expenses and until May 30 to submit any claims incurred during the previous plan year or during the grace period.
Other FSA Resources
FSA FAQ
The following provides a summary of commonly asked questions, but you must consult your plan documents or a Human Resources representative for full details about eligible expenses, enrollment, and other information.