Health Care & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts

As part of your benefit program, the University of St. Thomas offers you the opportunity to enroll in two different reimbursement accounts that allow you to pay your eligible health care and/or daycare expenses on a pre-tax basis.  You will save money when you use pre-tax dollars to reimburse your eligible health care and dependent care expenses.  If you enroll in one or both of the reimbursement accounts, your elected contributions will be deducted from your pay and will not be subject to Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, or Social Security (FICA) Taxes.  When your taxable income is reduced, your taxes are also reduced.  The following two types of reimbursement accounts are available through the Flexible Compensation Program:

• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account

The key to the effective use of the Health Care and Dependent Care reimbursement accounts is planning.  You have to anticipate what your bills will be for the coming year and set aside enough money to cover them.  You decide how much money you will contribute annually (based on a calendar year) to one or both accounts.  The annual amount will be divided by 24 pay periods and deducted on a pre-tax basis from the first two paychecks of each month during the plan year.  Twice during the year, you will receive three checks during the month; there will be no deductions for your flexible compensation choices from that third check.  The contributions you designate will be credited to a bookkeeping account on your behalf.  This account will be used to reimburse you for eligible health care and/or dependent care expenses for you and your eligible dependents which are not reimbursed by another source, like insurance, another reimbursement plan or a state agency.

Because your contributions are pre-tax, federal regulations limit your ability to change your elections during the calendar year.  You may only change your elections during the calendar year if you experience a Change in Status Event. 

More information can be obtained in the following documents:

• Summary Plan Description
• Summary Plan Document
• Summary Annual Report
• Dependent Care Worksheet
• Eligible Expenses
• Requesting Reimbursement
• Medical and Daycare Expense Claim Form
• Reimbursement Schedule
• Crossover Information

Once enrolled, you can access your account information from our provider's website (OptumHealth Financial Services, formerly ARC).  The first time you log on, use your social security number as your username and the last four digits of your social security number as your password.  If you have trouble logging on, or need further customer service, you can reach OptumHealth at:
1-877-365-7923.

Before requesting a change to your current election during a plan year, contact a benefits team member to check your eligibility.

Other health care and dependent care forms, such as reimbursement, can be obtained in our Forms Library.