Changes to Spending Accounts

Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Changes to Flexible Spending Accounts are administered in accordance with IRS guidelines. Outside of Open Enrollment, you may only make changes to your elections if you have a Qualifying Life Event that allows the change.

General guidelines include:

  • You may elect or increase a Health Care FSA if you gain a new dependent through an event such as a marriage or the birth of a child.
  • You may terminate or decrease a Health Care FSA if you lose a dependent through an event such as a divorce or the death of a dependent.
  • You may elect, terminate, or change a Dependent Care FSA if your dependent care needs change. Examples include an increase or decrease in the daycare needed, a change in cost, new enrollment in an after-school program, etc.

If you would like to change your contributions to a flexible spending account and you have experienced an event that is not listed, please email DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov to discuss.

You have 60 days from the event date to request changes to your County benefit elections. Your new elections will be effective the 1st of the month after you have submitted your request.

How do I request a change to my Health Care Flexible Spending Account (Health Care FSA) and/or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (Dependent Care FSA)?

To request a change, please email DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov with the following information:

  • Employee ID number
  • Specify the account you want to change (Health Care FSA or Dependent Care FSA)
  • Provide an explanation of the change and the new annual pledge

                · Health Care FSA annual pledges must be between $120 and $2,850 to remain open

                · Dependent Care FSA annual pledges must be between $120 and $5,000 to remain open

Eligible changes will be effective the 1st of the month after your email request has been submitted to DHRBenefits.FGG@sdcounty.ca.gov.


What happens if I decide to close my Spending Account?

If you request to close your account, and you are eligible to do so, it will close the 1st of the month following your request. 

Health Care FSA

  • You will only be eligible to submit claims for expenses incurred while the account was active.
  • For example, if your Health Care FSA began on January 1st and you send a request in June to close your account, the account will close on July 1st. You will only be eligible to submit receipts for expenses incurred from January 1st-June 30th.
  • The deadline to submit these receipts will still be March 31st of the following year, but you can only claim expenses incurred while the account was active.

Dependent Care FSA

  • You will still be eligible to submit claims for expenses incurred through the end of the calendar year, up to the amount you contributed to the account.
  • The deadline to submit these claims is March 31st of the following year.

 

If I close my Health Care FSA, will any unused funds rollover to the following year?

No, you must have an active account on December 31st of the plan year to be eligible for any rollover funds.

  • If you want to keep your account active and maintain access to the existing balance, you may lower your Health Care FSA pledge to as low as $5 per paycheck moving forward.

Please note: Dependent Care FSAs do NOT have a rollover provision.

 

What is the minimum amount I need to contribute to keep my Spending Account active?

If you want to keep your account active, and maintain access to the existing balance, you may lower your pledge to as low as $5 per paycheck moving forward, as long as the amount requested is not lower than what you have already been reimbursed.

 

What are the maximum amounts I can contribute to a Spending Account in 2023?

  • Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) — $2,850
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) — $5,000    
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) — Individual coverage: $3,850; family coverage: $7,750 (If you are age 55 or older, you can make an additional “catch-up” contribution of $1,000)
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) - $5,000 (excess Flex Credits only)

Note: The combined limit between a Health Care FSA and a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is $5,000. You cannot have more than $5,000 between these two accounts.

 

Will changes to a Dependent Care FSA effect my other Spending Accounts?

If you have excess Flex Credits available, changes to your Dependent Care FSA may affect your Health Reimbursement Account and/or Health Savings Account.  The Flex Credits are reallocated to adjust for the Dependent Care FSA change.  For more information, please refer to the Benefits Guide beginning on page 9.

  • If you currently have a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), a request to start or increase a Dependent Care FSA will result in your HRA reducing or terminating. If your HRA terminates, you will only be eligible to request reimbursements for expenses incurred while the account was active.

 

How can I check my account balance and make a claim?

To check your Spending Account balance(s), and make claims please log in to your account with ASIFlex.

  • For assistance logging into your account and making a claim, please call ASIFlex at (800) 659-3035.

 

Health Savings Account

HSA contributions may be changed at any time during the year, and will be effective the 1st of the month after your request. You can initiate a change to your HSA by logging into PeopleSoft Self Service and following this path:

Main Menu> Self Service > Benefits > Life Event > I want to change my HSA contribution

Health Reimbursement Account

An HRA is only funded with excess Flex Credits and may change based on your elections during Open Enrollment or a Qualifying Life Event. Qualifying Life Events often affect your Flex Credit amount and allocations and may result in the creation of a new HRA or termination of an existing HRA. It is important to review your Benefit Summary after completing a Qualifying Life Event to review your reimbursement accounts if you had or newly have excess Flex Credits.