Flexible Spending Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) allow you to set aside pre‑tax dollars for eligible healthcare or dependent care expenses, helping reduce out‑of‑pocket costs and overall tax liability.
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With FSAs, you can set aside pre-tax dollars (up to IRS limits) to pay for eligible expenses. FSAs have a “use-it-or-lose-it” provision, meaning any unspent money will be forfeited. Employees have until March 31, 2027, to submit any claims incurred on or before December 31, 2026.
Types of FSAs
Annual paycheck deductions for the Health Care FSA can be $150 to $3,400 per calendar year. The total annual contribution is available on your benefits start date. Eligible expenses including medical, dental, vision and prescription drug are reimbursable through the plan. You can find a comprehensive list of eligible expenses at optumfinancial.com.
For 2026, Health Care FSAs have a rollover provision which allows up $660 (must have a balance of greater or equal to $50 for rollover) of unspent funds to roll into the next calendar year.
This account is available if you enroll in the CDHP medical plan and you qualify to contribute to an HSA. It lets you set aside money each pay period and reimburse yourself tax-free for eligible dental or vision expenses only. For eligible medical and prescription drug expenses, you can use your HSA.
The Limited Purpose FSA could be of interest to you if you are contributing to the limit in the HSA and want to maximize your tax savings even more. You can contribute $3,400 toward the Limited Purpose FSA in 2026.
Annual employee paycheck deductions can be from $150 up to $7,500 per household, per calendar year for daycare, eldercare, and other eligible expenses. Participants receive reimbursements up to the total amount contributed through each paycheck deduction. Dependent Care is available to use for daycare expenses for natural, adopted and foster children, who have not reached their thirteenth birthday and family members who cannot care for themselves.
All dependents must live with you for more than half the year and be claimed on your federal tax return.
Funds are added to your balance with each paycheck. To be reimbursed, the amount you request must be in the account at the time of your request. Reimbursements for dependent care are received by faxing, emailing or mailing claim forms to Optum Financial at optumfinancial.com.
Use Your Optum Financial Debit Card for All Accounts and Save Receipts
You use the Optum Financial debit card whether you are in the HSA, HRA or FSAs (with the exception of Dependent Care FSA). For medical and prescription drug expenses, the card will first pull from the HSA (if you are in the CDHP) or the HRA (if you are in the PPO Plan) and then from the FSA.
If you would like to take money from the FSA first instead of the HSA or HRA, you may do so online with Optum. Funds will be drawn in the following order: first from the HRA, then from the FSA, and finally from the HSA.
You may need to upload documentation for expenses when requested by Optum Financial. It’s important to save receipts.