Following are member frequently asked questions and answers about an FSA.

Q: Why am I receiving mail from SelectAccount? Who is SelectAccount?

A: SelectAccount is the administrator of your FSA. SelectAccount processes your reimbursement requests and will contact you from time to time with information your account, your reimbursement requests, and tax changes that could affect your FSA.

Q: Can I use my medical FSA to pay for my spouse’s deductible, copayments, or other out-of-pocket medical expenses?

A: Yes. Your medical FSA can be used to cover expenses incurred by you, your spouse and your dependents. However, health insurance premiums may not be reimbursed through your medical FSA.

Q: What is crossover?

A: Crossover is a feature from SelectAccount that lets you save time with peperless, automatic claims processing. Claims for participating providers are automatically submitted from your health plan to your health reimbursement account. If you don’t have crossover, you’ll need to manually submit a claim to SelectAccount. Note: if you are covered under more than one health plan, do not choose crossover.

Q: What happens to my account balance if I don’t use all the money deposited for the current year?

A: The IRS’s “use-it-or-lose-it” rule states that you will lose any money left in the FSA at the end of the plan year. Check with your employer to see when your plan year ends.

Q: How are claims for orthodontia expenses reimbursed?

A: Many long-term medical treatment programs, such as orthodontia, can span several plan years, which affects the process of reimbursement. The standard procedure for refunding eligible orthodontia expenses is to reimburse these claims according to the financial agreement you have with your orthodontist and/or insurance company, which itemizes the expenses incurred each plan year.

Q: What happens if I have incurred expenses at the end of the plan year but don’t submit a claim before the end of the year?

A:You may have what’s called a “run-out period,” which allows you to submit claims in the following year for expenses incurred on services provided during the previous plan year. Check your benefit summary or ask your employer if this applies to you.

Q: Can I change the amount of money I set aside partway through the year?

A: Generally, you cannot change your election until the next enrollment period. However, you may be allowed to make changes during the year if you have a qualifying event, such as a marriage, divorce, gain or loss of a spouse or dependent child, your spouse become eligible for or loses medical coverage, your spouse stars or stops working full time. You have a limited amount of time after such a change occurs to change your contribution amount. Check your benefit summary for more information.

Q: What happens if I terminate employment during the plan year? Can I still submit claims to my FSA?

A: Typically, you will have an additional period of time (a run-out period) after termination to submit claims for reimbursement. To confirm the last day when you can submit claims, please contact SelectAccount customer service at toll free 1-800-859-2144.

Q: Are expenses for before- and after-school care considered eligible dependent care expenses?

A: Yes. If a child under the age of 13 receives before- or after-school care at school, you must separate the costs of this care from the cost of the school. If this cost is not available separately, it will be prorated based on the number of hours your child spends in before- and after-school care.

Q: If my child’s 13th birthday is this year, can I use the dependent care account for the entire year?

A: No. Only expenses incurred before the child reaches age 13 are eligible for reimbursement.

Q: If I participate in the dependent care FSA, will I still be able to claim the dependent care tax credit on my federal income tax return?

A: You may not claim any other tax benefits for the tax-free amounts received under this plan, although the balance of your qualified dependent care expenses may be eligible for the dependent care tax credit. Check with your accountant for additional tax guidance.

Q: Can I use my FSA even if I don’t participate in the company health plan?

A: Yes, you can participate even if you have health coverage elsewhere, such as through your spouse’s plan, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the FSA.