CIGNA Flexible Spending (FSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care on Your Terms

With a Flexible Spending Account, you set aside pre-tax dollars, then use them to pay for eligible medical, dental and pharmacy expenses, as well as dependent day care expenses.

Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts are a convenient way for you to manage eligible out-of-pocket expenses not covered by your medical plans. The following are examples of the types of expenses that may be reimbursed from a Health Care Flexible Spending Account:

• Deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, and out of pocket expenses for medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral care
• Many uninsured healthcare expenses such as hearing aids, eyeglasses, and contact lenses.

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Three Simple Steps That Save You Money

It's easy, convenient and a smart way to plan and save. You actively participate in managing your own health care expenses, which is important for everyone.

First step: Estimating your costs for all out-of-pocket medical expenses for the coming year. A complete list of eligible expenses is available on myCIGNA.com.

Second step: Setting up payroll deduction. Once you determine your costs, part of each paycheck will be directed to the FSA.

Third step: Selecting a payment option. You can choose between automatic claim submission (where you skip the paperwork) or debit card payment (where you skip the wait for reimbursement).

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Good Planning Pays Off – With Tax Savings

IRS rules allow you to contribute to the account through payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis – reducing your taxable income. Then, as needed, you can withdraw funds from the account(s) to get reimbursed for the eligible expenses.

• Estimate what you will need to contribute for the year. Your employer determines the maximum amounts that you can set aside for each type of account.
• Divide this amount by the number of paychecks you receive yearly.
• Your employer then deposits these pretax payroll deductions into your non-interest-bearing Flexible Spending Account(s).
• You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) with each reimbursement check.

This cost-sharing tool is a valuable option for the way you live. Contact your employer today for a full list of eligible expenses and program details.

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Health and wellness programs

As a plan Member, you also have:

• 24-hour access to health information – call the CIGNA HealthCare 24-Hour Health Information Line^SM any time to speak with a registered nurse or listen to our audio library for health-related information.
• Support for chronic conditions – manage your asthma, diabetes, heart condition, low back pain, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with help from CIGNA Well Aware for Better Health^SM.
• Member discounts – save up to 60% on products and services, from acupuncture to weight management, with our Healthy Rewards^® discount program. Note: All programs are not available in all states.
• Quality transplant care – access care from nationally recognized facilities in the CIGNA LIFESOURCE Transplant Network^SM.
• Healthy moms and babies – give your child a healthy beginning with information and support from our Healthy Babies® program.

Check your plan materials or log in to myCIGNA.com for more information about your PPO plan, including your eligibility for specific programs and services. Or ask your employer or benefits manager for more information about enrolling in a CIGNA HealthCare plan.

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FAQ

What expenses can be reimbursed?
FSA and HSA: A health care FSA or HSA can only be used to reimburse health care expenses that qualify as federal income tax deductions under Section 213** of the federal tax code. If an expense is not reimbursable under Section 213, it cannot be reimbursed by an FSA or HSA.

HRA: Your employer, not the federal tax code, determines which health care expenses are eligible under an HRA. Please check with your Human Resources department for a full list of expenses covered by your HRA.

Whose expenses can be reimbursed?
FSA and HSA: You can use funds to pay qualified health care expenses incurred by the employee, spouse, or a dependent for whom an exemption is claimed under Section 152 of the tax code.

HRA: Only employees and their dependents enrolled in the HRA may use HRA funds to pay qualified health care expenses.

What is the FSA Debit Card?
Your employer may offer an FSA Debit Card that can be sent directly to your home along with a welcome kit containing instructions for use of the card. The card is a Visa debit card that is pre-loaded with the participant's annual Healthcare FSA goal amount (for example: $500). When the individual has a qualified FSA expense, the card is swiped at the point of sale or written on a bill and sent to the provider. After the transaction is complete, the amount of the transaction is deducted from the individual's available FSA balance. The card is restricted to approximately 30 merchant types (for example: Pharmacies, Physician's office, Hospital) that are considered healthcare related. For more information on this program, or to see if you qualify, contact your employer.

Ineligible Expenses
The following expenses are not eligible for reimbursement under a Health FSA, HRA or HSA:

• Annual medical contract fees for exclusive provider care
• Arch supports, knee   wrist braces (unless prescribed for a specific medical condition)
• Breast pumps (unless medically required to care for a premature infant)
• Blood pressure machines (unless prescribed by a physician as medically required for constant monitoring of blood pressure due to a medical condition)
• Cosmetic surgery
• Dental bleaching or any other teeth whitening
• Domestic help fees (for services of a non-medical nature)
• Electric toothbrushes   replacement brushes
• Electrolysis or hair removal
• Hair transplant
• Health club dues/memberships (unless part of a medically prescribed regimen to treat a specific condition)
• Humidifiers (unless prescribed by a physician to treat a specific medical condition)
• Insurance premiums of any kind (see below exceptions for HRA and HSA)
• Laetrile, even if prescribed by a doctor, is not reimbursable.
• Lens replacement insurance
• Marijuana, even if prescribed for medicinal purposes, is not reimbursable.
• Massage therapy (unless prescribed by a physician to treat an injury or trauma, or for rehabilitative purposes)
• Over the counter items which are items not categorized as a medicine or drug and may include, but are not limited to, hot pads, support pillows, bandages, ACE wraps, nail clippers, pumice stones, feminine hygiene products, etc. are not reimbursable (unless used to treat a specific medical condition). Over-the-counter toiletries or personal hygiene items which may include, but are not limited to shampoo, toothpaste, conditioners, hand creams, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, dental floss, body powders, hair gels/sprays, make-up, nail polish accessories, soap, mouthwash, etc. are not reimbursable.
• Physical therapy treatments for general well-being
• Supplements - The cost of supplements taken for general well-being are not reimbursable. However, the cost of supplements taken to alleviate a specific medical condition is reimbursable. A physician should substantiate the diagnosis of a specific medical condition and acknowledge that the supplement being used alleviates the medical condition diagnosed.
• Tuition for special schools (unless it is a special school to treat a specific condition such as blindness, speech, etc.)
• Union dues
• Vitamins - Daily multi-vitamins taken for general well-being are not reimbursable. Vitamins taken to treat a specific medical condition are reimbursable. A diagnosis of the medical condition should accompany the vitamin claim. Prenatal vitamins obtained by prescription are reimbursable.
• Weight loss machines See Exercise Equipment.

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