Available to full-time permanent employees, including temporary faculty employed for a one-academic year contract, and permanent part-time employees, including temporary faculty employed for a one-academic year contract, who work 50% time. A flexible spending account or day care FSA, governed by the IRS Code, allow employees to have income withheld from their paychecks before taxes for eventual reimbursement of certain health care and child care expenses.

Optum Website Optum Store Qualified Expenses FSA FAQs

 

Important Plan Notes

  • FSA is an annual election (January 1 - December 31) and must be elected each year. If you are a new employee electing the plan mid-year, the amount elected will be spread out over the remaining pays of the calendar year.

  • Your entire election for Health Care FSA is available to you at the beginning of the year to pay for qualifying expenses. The Day Care FSA funds are available to you as you contribute to the plan.

  • While both plans are considered an FSA, the main difference between the Health Care FSA and the Day Care FSA is how the plan is used.
    • The Health Care FSA is for all of your eligible dependents (you, your spouse, and your federal tax dependents) medical, dental, vision, or prescription expenses.
    • The Day Care FSA is for eligible dependents (age 12 and under) day care, summer camp, or elder care expenses. 

  • The State System offers a carryover for the Health Care FSA, which permits participants to rollover a limited amount of unused Health Care FSA funds into the following calendar year. (see Maximum Carryover amount listed below). Any remaining balances exceeding the carryover limit will be forfeited. There is no carryover for the Day Care FSA.

    Carryover and Run-Out Information

 

FSA Options

 

car swipe daycare picture

Health Care FSA 
Provide tax savings for you, your spouse, and your federal tax dependents'  out-of-pocket medical, dental, vision, or prescription expenses not paid by insurance.
Maximum Election:
2026 - $3,300
2027 - $3,400

Maximum Carryover:
2026 into 2027 - $660
2027 into 2028 - $680

      • Copays for Prescriptions or Doctor Office Visits
      • Dental Care or Braces
      • Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses, or Laser Vision Correction
      • Eligible Over-the-Counter Items

More Information >>

Day Care FSA 
A welcome money saver for today’s working parents. It allows you to set aside pre-tax money for eligible dependents (age 12 and under) day care expenses so you can work.
Maximum Election:
2026 - $7,500
2027 - $7,500

No Carryover to the next plan year.

      • Day Care
      • Summer Camp
      • Before/After School Programs
      • Nursery School
      • Elder Care

 

More Information >>

Open Enrollment - October 12-30, 2027

Open enrollment is your only opportunity to enroll in the plan effective January 1, 2027.  If you would like a 2026 FSA, you are required to enroll annually. 

It is important to understand the difference between FSA plan options; please review the information above. 

New Maximum Election Amounts for 2027:
Health Care FSA - $3,400
Day Care FSA - $7,500 
2027 into 2028 Carryover - $680


How to Enroll

Enrollment is completed through the Self-Service Workplace, FIORI during Fall Open Enrollment. Employees should elect coverage in annual (calendar year) amounts which is divided by your pay frequency. 

Enroll Now   Self-Service Directions  

 

Plan Administered by Optum Financial

https://www.optum.com/en/financial-services/flexible-spending-accounts.html 
Customer Service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
 1-833-325-9998

Sign into your Optum Financial online account or download the Optum Financial mobile app - everything you need is at your fingertips and easy to find. The simple, clean design lets you seamlessly manage your account as you save, spend, and pay for health care.

  • Intuitive dashboard – View your most important account information on the homepage. Have multiple accounts? It’s just one click to move between them from the homepage.
  • Payments from any screen – Quickly and easily make payments to your provider or reimburse yourself from any page.
  • Take control – The Settings and Preferences section allows you to set up direct deposit, enroll dependents and more.
  • Email and text alerts – Sign up for convenient alerts that keep you in the know about your account activity.
  • Manage with confidence – Take advantage of direct links to learning resources, FAQs, forms and calculators.

 

Changing FSA/DC FSA Elections

Within 60 days of a qualifying event, you must submit a Change in Status/Election Form and supporting documentation to your employer. Upon the approval of your election change request, your existing elections will be stopped or modified (as appropriate). Other events, such as change in child care expenses, may qualify to change your election amount.

 

HSA Reminder

A health savings account (HSA) is available to an eligible individual who has high deductible health coverage as long as the individual has no other impermissible health coverage. A general purpose FSA is impermissible and renders an individual ineligible to make contributions to an HSA even when it’s their spouse enrolled in a general purpose FSA. The State System does not offer an HSA plan but if your spouse is enrolled in an HSA plan offered by their employer, this may impact your FSA enrollment.

 

FSA Plan Documentation

Flexible Benefits Plan Document
FSA Summary Plan Description - Dependent Care
FSA Summary Plan Description - Health Care