Benefits » Tax Savings » HCRA
As announced in November, 2007: United Healthcare now administers the LANL Flexible Spending Accounts (effective January 1, 2008).
Your ID Number is your Social Security Number.
Your Group Number is 711467.
A Health Care Reimbursement Account (HealthCare) is one of two employee benefit programs, called Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), offered by LANS that allow LANL employees to set aside money, on a pre-tax basis, for certain kinds of health care expenses not covered by your medical, dental, or vision plans. The other FSA is a Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.
Because HealthCare contributions are deducted from your paycheck on a pretax basis [i.e., before federal, state, and Social Security (FICA) taxes are taken out], you save money.
| How HealthCare saves you money: an example | ||
|---|---|---|
| If you earn | and contribute this amount to HealthCare | then you pay taxes only on |
| $3,000 | $200 | $2,800 |
The tax savings are reflected in your paycheck each month, all year. The amount you specified when you enrolled is deducted from your paycheck each pay period and deposited in your HealthCare account.
You will receive a UHC consumer account card (a MasterCard debit card) in the mail.
If you either elect not to employ the UHC consumer accounts card, or you use a medical provider who does not accept the UHC card, as in the past you can still file claims manually whenever they occur or at the end of the year. Log on to myuhc.com and follow the instructions in the claim submittal area.
You also may elect to use the new direct roll-over and direct-deposit options as described on the myuhc.com website. The direct roll-over allows your UHC reimbursable out-of-pocket deductible and co-pays to be credited to your FSA as UHC processes the claim. The direct-deposit option enables you to have your co-pay and deductible reimbursements automatically deposited into your checking account.
You can participate in HealthCare if you meet at least one of the following requirements:
You are appointed to work at least 43.75% time.
You can enroll in HealthCare one year at a time; it does not continue one year to the next.
| You can enroll in HealthCare only at the following times: | How do you enroll in HealthCare? |
|---|---|
| When you first become eligible for HealthCare .* You may enroll during your period of initial eligibility (PIE), which begins the day you become eligible and ends 31 days later. |
As a newly eligible employee, you may enroll by completing Dep/Care/HCRA/TIPS Enrollment Agreement (pdf). Send the form to the Lab’s Payroll or Benefits Office.** |
| During Open Enrollment.* | During Open Enrollment, you may enroll online through the Oracle Self-Service On-Line Application. |
| When you have an eligible change in family or employment status.* | If you are a current LANS employee and have an eligible change in status, complete the completing Dep/Care/HCRA/TIPS Enrollment Agreement (pdf) to enroll in HealthCare. DepCare/HCRA/TIPS Change or Cancellation Agreement Form 1924 (pdf) Complete to change or cancel the amount of your HealthCare contribution. Send the form to the Lab’s Payroll or Benefits Office. |
* Be sure to check the effective date.
** The Health Care Reimbursement Account is also referred to by its acronym, HCRA.
You may contribute up to $5,000 per plan year. If both you and your spouse are LANS employees, you may each contribute up to $5,000. It’s important that you estimate your health care expenses—you forfeit any contributions you can’t claim (see “Use it or lose it!”).
If you still have claims to submit for 2007, you will still submit to SHPS:
| Processing your HealthCare Claim | |
|---|---|
| Get a claim form | from the SHPS website (pdf) or call 1-800-678-6684 |
| Complete the claim form and, with appropriate documentation (such as expense receipts), either fax* or mail to SHPS, Inc. | Fax: 1-866-643-2219 SHPS FSA Administration P.O. Box 34700 Louisville, KY 40232 |
| Check your balance** | on the SHPS website or call toll free 1-800-678-6684. |
* When you fax your claims to SHPS, they will confirm receipt by sending you an email confirmation. To use this service, include your email address on your claim form, your Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) form, or log into your mySHPS account online.
** Once you enroll, SHPS will send instructions on how to access your balance and other personal information on their web site.
Claims are processed within ten business days of receipt by SHPS, and payments are released no later than the following day.
Consult the eligible expense guide.
Need more information? The HealthCare Summary Plan Description (pdf) provides useful information on such issues as
The IRS requires you to forfeit any funds in your Reimbursement Accounts not used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred by March 15 of the plan year following the year you enroll. For example, for the 2006 plan year, you will forfeit any money remaining in either or both Reimbursement Accounts after you submit reimbursement requests for all expenses incurred through March 15, 2007. You have until June 15 to submit reimbursement requests for expenses incurred through March 15.
This is only an overview of the Health Care Reimbursement Account. Please see the LANS Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) Benefit Program Summary, effective June 1, 2006 (pdf) for additional information on HCRA.
To log in:
Call SHPS toll free at 1-800-678-6684.
Questions? Contact the Lab's Benefits Office at 505-667-1806.