IMPORTANT!! THE MAXIMUM ANNUAL AMOUNT FOR THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MCAP) WILL BE $2,500 FOR PLAN YEAR 2014.
The State of Illinois, through Fringe Benefits Management Company, a Division of WageWorks, provides you with IRS tax-favored Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) to stretch your medical expense and dependent care dollars. Flexible Spending Accounts feature: IRS-approved reimbursement of eligible expenses tax-free, per-pay period deposits from your pretax salary, savings on income and Social Security taxes and security of paying anticipated eligible expenses with your FSA.
If you spend $240 or more on recurring eligible expenses during your plan year, you may save money by paying for them with an FSA. When you enroll in an FSA, you decide the amount you want deducted from your salary each pay period. That amount will be deducted each pay period prior to income and Social Security taxes being taken, saving you income and Social Security taxes each time you receive wages. To determine your potential savings with a Tax Savings Analysis by visiting the “Tax Calculators” link at www.myFBMC.com.
Waiting for an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to file for MCAP reimbursement?
Find out what you should do by going to the
Explanation of Benefits page.
- The Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) allows members to pay eligible out-of-pocket medical, dental, prescription and vision expenses incurred during the plan year with tax-free dollars.
- The Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) allows members to pay eligible child and/or adult day care expenses incurred during the plan year with tax-free dollars.
Employees can enroll in MCAP and DCAP anytime during the year upon experiencing a qualifying change in status event that is consistent with enrollment. All employees who enroll in MCAP will receive the FSA payment card at no cost. When using the card, expenses are automatically deducted from the MCAP account. Although most transactions paid with the card do not need follow-up documentation to be submitted, some transactions will require documentation. Those transactions that do require documentation will be indicated in blue on the FBMC monthly statement. Participants must submit the required documentation to FBMC along with the FSA Claim Form (PDF, 364 KB).
Effective Dates
The first day you are eligible for MCAP or DCAP reimbursement depends on when you enroll in the program.
- If you enroll during the Benefit Choice Period (held during the month of May), your effective date is July 1st.
- If you enroll mid-year due to experiencing a qualifying event, your effective date is the first day of the pay period following the date the enrollment form was signed or the date of the qualifying event, whichever is later.
Eligibility Service Dates
- MCAP expenses are eligible when incurred from your effective date (see above) through the last day of the "grace period." The "grace period" is the 2 1/2 month period following the end of the plan year (i.e., September 15th). The "grace period" only applies to MCAP expenses.
- DCAP services are only eligible for reimbursement when those services are provided during the plan year (July 1 through June 30). Services provided after June 30th are not eligible for reimbursement. The "grace period" does NOT apply to DCAP expenses.
Claim Reimbursement
- MCAP accounts – the entire amount of your annual enrollment election is eligible for reimbursement your first day of eligibility.
- DCAP accounts – reimbursement is limited to the amount of funds in your account on the day the reimbursement request is received.
Reimbursement of an MCAP or DCAP funds must be requested before the end of the run-out period, which is September 30th of each year. Participants can request reimbursement of eligible funds by completing the FSA Claim Form (PDF, 364 KB) and submitting online, faxing or mailing to FBMC. Reimbursement may be direct deposited in your bank account by completing the application and faxing or sending to FBMC. Participants do not need to complete a direct deposit application each year as direct deposit accounts remain in effect until they are cancelled, changed or until the employee is no longer in the program.
FSA Forms and Publications
Updated 04/29/13