Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to submit 2019 claims for the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA) has been extended to May 31, 2020. The deadline was previously extended to April 30, 2020. Employees who are enrolled in either benefit now have until May 31 to submit claims for health care or dependent care services provided during the 2019 calendar year. Claim forms and instructions for submitting claims can be found on the Flex Spending website at goer.ny.gov/FSA.
In addition, the recently enacted CARES Act made several changes to the rules concerning eligible HCSA expenses. Specifically:
- Effective January 1, 2020, the requirement that OTC drugs and medicines must have a written prescription in order to be reimbursed is eliminated. OTC drugs and medicines may now be reimbursed by the HCSA without a prescription from a doctor.
- Effective January 1, 2020, menstrual care products are now considered qualified medical expenses and are therefore eligible for reimbursement by the HCSA.
Employees will be able to use their WageWorks debit card when purchasing these items. Since the change is retroactive to January 1, 2020, employees are encouraged to submit receipts for previously purchased items for reimbursement.
Be well,
Jeri
Jeri O’Bryan-Losee
she/her/hers
Statewide Secretary/Treasurer
United University Professions
www.uupinfo.org