Enrolling in an FSA
Participation in an FSA is entirely voluntary. If you are a part-time employee working at least 20 hours per week, or a full-time employee working at least 40 hours a week, you're eligible to enroll in the HCFSA, the DCFSA or both. However, due to IRS rules, you may not participate in the HCFSA if you are enrolled in the UnitedHealthcare Basic HSA Plan or Premium HSA Plan and participate in an HSA. If you don't enroll in an FSA when you are first eligible or during an annual enrollment period, you normally are not eligible to enroll again until the next annual enrollment period.
- If you are a new employee. You are eligible to participate in the HCFSA and the DCFSA on your date of hire. In order to participate in either FSA, you must complete the applicable enrollment information and indicate how much you want to contribute to each account. FSA contributions begin on the first day of the payroll period following the date of your election and continue through the last pay period of the calendar year.
- Keep in mind, changes due to a new enrollment (or qualifying life event) will not be permitted after the last pay period during the calendar year has been run.
- If you are rehired after a break in service. If the break in service is 30 days or less and you are rehired in the same calendar year, your previous flexible spending account elections will be reinstated as of your rehire date. Contributions will be recalculated to deduct the full amount of your election by the end of the plan year.
If the break in service is longer than 30 days or if you are rehired in a new calendar year, you will make new FSA elections which will become effective as of your rehire date.
- Annual enrollment. You have a new opportunity to enroll in the HCFSA and the DCFSA each year. During the annual enrollment period, you decide whether you want to participate in one or both FSAs and how much you want to contribute. Your participation status and the amount you contribute can change from one year to the next.
FSA elections do not roll over from one year to the next, so you must enroll and select a new annual contribution amount each year if you want to continue participation in an FSA. FSA elections made during an annual enrollment period become effective on the following January 1. You may participate in one or both FSAs even if you are not covered under a Stryker healthcare plan.
When you enroll in the HCFSA or the DCFSA, you can choose to have reimbursements deposited directly to your bank account. If you choose the direct deposit reimbursement option, you will receive a verification notice, which indicates the deposit amount and the date, each time a reimbursement payment is deposited to your account. You can elect direct deposit reimbursement by visiting the UnitedHealthcare website at www.myuhc.com. If you don't elect direct deposit reimbursement, your FSA claim reimbursement will be paid by check, which will be mailed to your home.