Health Care Flexible Spending Account

You are eligible for an MIT Health Care FSA if you are paid by MIT, are appointed to work at MIT for at least three months, and work at least 50% of the normal full-time work schedule.

Who is not eligible

• contractor
• affiliate
• teaching or research assistant (see graduate student benefits)
• honorary lecturer
• summer appointment
• international visiting student
• member of the armed services assigned to MIT
• family member who is not employed by MIT
• work-study student
• paid by MITemps

Members of collective bargaining units

All the plan provisions are subject to the terms of your collective bargaining agreement.

You have access to the entire election amount on January 1 of each plan year, even though the dollars have not been deducted from your paycheck yet. You must have a qualifying medical expense to gain access to the funds, and your deductions will continue to come out of your paycheck on a weekly or semimonthly basis throughout the remaining plan year.

When you, your spouse, or dependent children pay for an eligible expense, you are reimbursed through your account. You cannot be reimbursed for the expenses of domestic partners.

You can submit claims for reimbursement up until April 30 each year for eligible services received through December 31 of the previous plan year.

Your pay and the MIT Health Care FSA

When you make contributions to your MIT Health Care FSA, you receive certain tax benefits on the money you contribute to your account. By setting aside money for these expenses before taxes, you will generally pay less in federal, state and Social Security taxes.

Participation in an MIT Health Care FSA will not affect your salary for the purposes of

• annual salary reviews
• 401(k) participation
• life insurance coverage
• disability benefits

Be as accurate as you can in estimating your annual eligible expenses, so that you do not contribute more to your MIT Health Care FSA than you expect to claim for reimbursement. Any money left in a Health Care FSA that is not part of the $610 ($660 in 2025) carryover amount you automatically lose after April 30 following the plan year. Use the WageWorks FSA Calculator tool located on WageWork's website to help you determine how much money you would like to set aside in either account. You may not use this money for any other purpose or transfer the money to any other account.

Carryover

The Health Care FSA Carryover feature allows up to $610 ($660 in 2025) from one plan year to be carried over into the following plan year. The MIT Health Care FSA has a carryover time limit to no more than one plan year when a subsequent enrollment is not made. As long as you have an active Healthcare FSA in subsequent plan years, you may carryover funds from one plan year to the next.

1. Who is eligible for the Carryover?
   Active employees with a Health Care FSA who have unused funds in their account as of December 31 will have their carryover funds carried over into the next plan year automatically. However, if the employee does not re-enroll in a Health Care FSA, the carryover dollars must be used by December 31 following the year in which a Health Care FSA was elected.
2. How much can/will be carried over?
   Any remaining balance up to $610 ($660 in 2025) will be carried over. 
3. Does the carryover apply to the Dependent Care FSA?
   No, the carryover only applies to the Health Care FSA. It does not apply to the Dependent Care FSA.
4. If I do not elect a Health Care FSA for 2025, but I have leftover Health Care FSA funds from 2024, will those funds be carried over into a 2025 FSA?
   Yes, for active employees, even if you do not elect a Health Care FSA for 2025, any funds remaining in your account up to a limit of $610 will be carried over for you to use until December 31, 2025.
5. I elected to contribute $3,300 (the maximum allowed amount) into the Health Care FSA for the 2025 plan year. If I have funds from my 2024 Health Care FSA to be carried over, won't my Health Care FSA exceed the $3,300 maximum?
   Yes, but it is allowable for your Health Care FSA account to exceed the maximum annual deferral as long as no more than $3,300 is deducted from your pay on an annual basis.

There are several different ways to receive reimbursement from your MIT Health Care FSA. You can use your Health Care FSA debit card, file an online claim, use the WageWorks EZ Receipts® mobile app, or complete and return the Health Care FSA Reimbursement Form (below).

What you should know

• The eligible period for submitting claims is from January 1 through December 31 of the plan year. This means that you can use the funds in your Health Care FSA account to pay for medical expenses you receive through December 31 of the plan year.
• You are reimbursed for the full amount of your claim—regardless of your account balance—as long as your claim does not exceed your annual contribution.
• You receive your reimbursement within two weeks after filing your claim.
• Please note: Claims for less than $5 will not pay out until:
  • additional claims are filed totaling $5 or more, or
  • the account funds are exhausted with the below $5 claim submission, or
  • the run-out period is reached (April 30) and no additional claims have been filed

When to file for reimbursement

You can file a claim for an eligible expense received during the plan year. Claims for the plan year must be filed with WageWorks by April 30 following the plan year.

How to file for reimbursement

Via the Web Portal

1. Log into your WageWorks account.
2. If this is your first time logging into your WageWorks account, be sure to first register for your WageWorks account.
3. Once logged into your account, Click Submit Receipt or Claim and select Pay Me Back.
4. Enter payment information and select Submit Claim.
5. Upload digital copies of your receipts.

Via the Mobile App

1. Log into your WageWorks account on the WageWorks EZ Receipts® mobile app.
2. Click on Submit New Receipt and then Health Care Claim.
3. Follow the prompts to take and send photos of your receipts and other documentation.

Via Fax or Mail

1. Download a Healthcare FSA Reimbursement Form (below).
2. Fill in all the information requested on the form and sign it.
3. Fax or mail the form, along with copies of your receipts, to:
   • Claims Administrator
     P.O. Box 14053
     Lexington, KY, 40512
     Fax: 877-353-9236

Most Pay Me Back claims are processed within one to two business days after they are received and verified. Payments are sent shortly thereafter.

Questions about Pay Me Back claims? Check out the FAQs in the WageWorks Employee Support Center.

You can view the list of eligible expenses for more information. If you have questions about what is covered under your MIT Health Care FSA, please contact WageWorks  at 1-877-924-3967 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.

Sign up when you begin work at MIT

Sign up during Open Enrollment

If you do not enroll within this 31-day period, you must wait until the next annual Open Enrollment period, which takes place in the fall. Your account will then take effect on the following January 1.

Enroll as a result of a life event

If you experience a change in your life that has an impact on your benefits, you can enroll outside the Open Enrollment period.

What's the difference between a Medical Practitioner's note and a Prescription for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and drugs, and when is each required?

Medical practitioner (doctor's) notes:

• For some expenses (for example, dietary supplements), a letter of medical necessity (below) is required to verify that the expense qualifies as medical care.
• To be allowable, a letter of medical necessity may be written by a doctor of medicine, dentistry, podiatry or optometry; an authorized chiropractor, an alternative healer; or other qualified medical practitioner.
• A letter of medical necessity must contain all of the following items:
  1. date
  2. patient's name
  3. medical practitioner's name
  4. statement of medical necessity
  5. the prescribed treatment
  6. the duration of treatment required
• WageWorks will keep a copy of valid letters on file so it is not necessary to include previously submitted notes with each submission.

Prescription for OTC medicines and drugs:

OTC medicines and drugs require a physician's prescription to be eligible.

• A valid prescription is an electronic or written order for a medicine or drug that meets the legal requirements of a prescription in the state in which the medical expense is incurred, and that is issued by an individual authorized to issue a prescription in that state.
• Due to its interpretation of IRS rules, WageWorks will NOT keep a copy of prescriptions on file. For OTC medicines and drugs, you must submit your prescription with each submission.
• You may submit the same prescription as many times as the prescription allows (for example, three times if three refills are prescribed).