Flexible Spending Account

Open Enrollment for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) as well as all University benefits is from November 1 through November 30, 2009. Effective January 1, 2010, ConnectYourCare (CYC) will be Saint Louis University employee's Flexible Spending Administrator. ConnectYourCare is an affiliated company of Express Scripts. ConnectYourCare is located in Hunt Valley, Maryland; however, for your convenience several ConnectYourCare representatives are located on the ExpressScripts' campus here in St. Louis, Missouri. As with our previous provider, CYC offers benefits such as a healthcare payment card that reduces your need to send in receipts as well as online access to account information. Additionally, CYC's call center is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Enrollment Guide may be found by clicking on ConnectYourCare Enrollment Guide. The guide contains valuable information regarding this Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sponsored benefit. Please note that premiums are not an eligible expense with this plan. The annual maximum enrollment amount is $5,000. The minimum remains at $130. Employees may register for a personal account, upload their claims, and view the processing of claims at real-time. If employees choose, their reimbursement may be deposited directly into their designated banking account.

Employees enrolling in 2010 Flexible Spending Account will receive a ConnectYourCare health payment card along with a welcome kit. This card may be utilized at approved merchants accepting VISA cards. If you request, you may also receive one additional card for a spouse or child. However, for any additional cards, including replacement cards, your account will be assessed $5.00 for each additional card requested. Look for this card to arrive in mid-December 2009. On January 1, 2010, the card will be activated with your entire election available for use. This is a pre-loaded debit card, but does not have a Personal Identification Number (PIN) associated with the card, so you have to select "credit" at the point of service. Each time you use your card, funds are automatically deducted. This card cannot be used to withdraw cash from an automated teller machine (ATM).

New employees wishing to enroll must submit a 2010 Enrollment Form within 31 days from his/her date of full time employment. Enrollment in the plan may only be made within 31 days of date of full time employment, during the annual Open Enrollment period each November, or within 31 days of a life change such as a marriage or dependent birth/adoption. For more details about the plan, please read the Flexible Spending Account Summary Plan Description.

Plan enhancements include:

Saint Louis University has adopted the Treasury Department and the IRS issued Notice 2005-42 which allows employers to modify Healthcare Spending Accounts to extend the deadline for reimbursement of health plan expenses up to 2 months and 15 days after the end of the plan year.

Effective with the 2005 Plan Year, employees have 14 months and 15 days to incur claims for their Flexible Spending Account. For example, you may incur expenses until March 15, 2010 for the 2009 plan year. For 2010 expenses should be submitted to ConnectYourCare, while 2009 expenses should be submitted to RightCHOICE Benefit Administrators.

Effective January 1, 2004, certain over-the-counter drugs needed for medical care can be reimbursed in reasonable quantities under the Flexible Spending Plan. Please view the Summary Plan Description Amendment for further details.

Participation in a Flexible Spending Account will reduce your taxable income. Since this is a pre-tax benefit, your income is reduced prior to Social Security (FICA), Federal, State, and City taxes being assessed.

The Flexible Spending plan is a "use-it-or-lose-it" plan, meaning that any unclaimed money will be forfeited. The following worksheet can help determine your annual Flex contribution by your predictable costs.

• Flexible Spending Worksheet