Employee and Retiree Service Center → Employees → Benefits → Flexible Spending Accounts → Medical Spending Account
Participants in a medical flexible spending account (FSA) set aside a portion of their salaries before taxes are deducted to pay for anticipated, qualifying medical expenses. You may use a provided debit card when paying for qualifying medical expenses, or you may submit claims for reimbursement. All benefits-eligible employees may enroll in an FSA, even if you don't participate in health coverage through MCPS. There is a yearly limit to how much you can contribute to your medical FSA, as well as deadlines imposed by the IRS for claim submission.
Two permanent changes have been made to medical-FSA-eligible expenses under the federal Coronavirus Aide, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) law. The law was signed on March 27, 2020. Both of these changes are retroactive and effective for expenses incurred on or after January 1, 2020.
1) Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medicines no longer require a prescription to be eligible. This includes products such as cough syrup, allergy medicine and pain relievers.
2) Menstrual care products (i.e., tampons, liners, pads, cups, etc.) are now eligible.
Benefit Strategies, the MCPS FSA administrator is working on updating their systems to ensure that the FSA debit cards can be used to pay for the newly eligible expenses. In addition, individual merchants (drug stores, grocery stores, online retailers, etc. that accept FSA debit cards) will need to update their own systems. This is expected to be completed by early summer, although some merchants may take longer. Until you are able to use the FSA card, you may use another form of payment for these items and submit a claim for reimbursement to Benefit Strategies through our secure online portal, mobile application, or a FSA claim form.
To make calendar year elections within 60 days of your date of hire, visit the Employee Self-Service web page and click on the Benefits enrollment for new employees link. To make elections within 60 days of a qualifying life event, complete and submit MCPS Form 450-3: Flexible Spending Account Elections.