Flexible Spending Accounts

The Health Care FSA allows you to set aside funds through pre-tax payroll deductions for qualified health expenses (e.g. deductibles, copays and coinsurance). The Dependent Care FSA may be used for qualified dependent day care or elder care expenses.

Eligible out-of-pocket expenses are defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You determine how much money you want to contribute up to the FSA plan limits. The amount you select is deducted through payroll and is based on the number of pay periods you have within the CSU plan year (July 1–June 30). You are reimbursed for eligible expenses from your FSA account as you incur and submit a claim for reimbursement.

The list of eligible expenses is extensive and can be found in IRS Publication 502 or online at irs.gov/publications/p502. You may also visit the online FSA Store at FSAStore.com. The FSA Store is an online marketplace where you can purchase FSA-eligible products.

You can find the complete list of DCFSA eligible expenses at irs.gov/publications/p503

FSA Plan Use It or Lose It Rule

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires a “Use It or Lose It” rule for FSA accounts. If expenses are not incurred and/or filed for reimbursement within the allowable time periods, funds remaining in your account are forfeited. You should carefully calculate the amount you contribute to a FSA each plan year.

FSA Debit Card

A FSA debit card will be issued to each newly enrolled plan participant. Based on your account balance/ election, the debit card will allow you to immediately pay for eligible FSA expenses where debit cards are accepted. When using your debit card, you should retain receipts when you are asked by Surency to substantiate the payment as an eligible expense.

Surency Flexible Spending Accounts Online Access

Manage your benefits online at surency.com. You can check your balances, view account activity, access forms, view payment history and tax statements. You will also have access to FSAStore.com to purchase eligible items.

FSA Deadlines

2022–23 FSA Plan Year Deadlines
Payroll Contributions	FSA elections made during the annual Open Enrollment period will be deducted on a pretax basis according to your pay periods during July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023, or through May 15 for faculty paid over nine months.
Plan Year Period To Incur Eligible Expenses	Participants enrolling for the 2022–23 plan year must incur expenses from July 1, 2022 through September 15, 2023 (which includes a 2½-month grace period).
Claim Filing Deadline	All eligible claims incurred during the plan year period must be received by Surency (not postmarked) no later than November 30, 2022. If you separate/retire from the University, you have 60 calendar days from your separation date for Surency Flexible Spending Accounts to receive claims which were incurred prior to your last day of employment. Refer to claim filing instructions located on the Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account pages on the myCSU Human Resources Benefits website.

2022–23 FSA Plan Year Deadlines

Payroll Contributions

FSA elections made during the annual Open Enrollment period will be deducted on a pretax basis according to your pay periods during July 1, 2022–June 30, 2023, or through May 15 for faculty paid over nine months.

Plan Year Period To Incur Eligible Expenses

Participants enrolling for the 2022–23 plan year must incur expenses from July 1, 2022 through September 15, 2023 (which includes a 2½-month grace period).

Claim Filing Deadline

All eligible claims incurred during the plan year period must be received by Surency (not postmarked) no later than November 30, 2022.

If you separate/retire from the University, you have 60 calendar days from your separation date for Surency Flexible Spending Accounts to receive claims which were incurred prior to your last day of employment. Refer to claim filing instructions located on the Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account pages on the myCSU Human Resources Benefits website.

Details of the Health Care FSA are available here and the Dependent Care FSA here. Contact Surency at 866.818.8805 for additional information.

FSA Plan Limits
and Enrollment Rules

CSU offers two types of flexible spending accounts: Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA. The plan year minimum election to $24/year.

The maximum amount for a Health Care Spending Account is $2,750. The Dependent Care Account limit is $5,000.

To participate in a FSA, you must make an election during the Open Enrollment period, unless you have a qualified change in status which allows for a mid-year election change. Refer to Qualified Status Change rules on the Benefits Enrollment Frequently Asked Questions page.

You must re-enroll each plan year to continue participation in a FSA.

Each time you enroll in a FSA, you should carefully calculate the amount you contribute as contributions are subject to the forfeiture rules described here.