Claiming Reimbursement from a Flexible Spending Account

Health Care FSA Debit Card

This convenient card gives you immediate access to your Health Care FSA funds. Learn more.

Dates for Incurring Expenses and Submitting Claims

Penn’s plan year runs from July 1 to June 30. The money you contribute to a flexible spending account during each plan year can be used only for expenses incurred within certain dates (see below). Keep in mind that the expenses must be incurred while you are actively participating in the accounts. You must submit your claims by September 30 following the end of the plan year.

Unused Money

Health Care FSA

You are able to roll over up to $610 of unused money in your Health Care FSA to the following plan year. You will forfeit any remaining balance over $610. You have until June 30 (the end of the plan year) to incur expenses, and until September 30 of the following plan year to submit eligible claims. For example, if you enroll in a Health Care FSA during the 2022-2023 plan year, you’ll have until June 30, 2023 to incur expenses and until September 30, 2023 to submit eligible expenses for reimbursement. If you have any money remaining in your account at that time, up to $610 will automatically roll over to the following plan year’s account.

If you did not elect to have a Health Care FSA for the current plan year, you may log into myspendingaccount.wageworks.com and set up an account for your remaining eligible claims. You may still substantiate or submit a claim using the health care claim reimbursement form found on the secure FSA website. If you do not have a Health Care FSA for the current plan year, you will not have access to the FSA portal through the online benefits center.

Dependent Care FSA

Due to an IRS regulation known as “Use it or lose it,” if you don’t use the full balance in your Dependent Care FSA by the end of the plan year deadline, you will forfeit any remaining balance. You have until September 15 of the following plan year to incur expenses, and until September 30 of the following plan year to submit eligible claims. For example, if you enroll in a Dependent Care FSA during the 2022-2023 plan year, you’ll have until September 15, 2023 to incur expenses and until September 30, 2023 to submit eligible expenses for reimbursement. If you have any money remaining in your account at that time, it will be forfeited.

If you did not elect to have a Dependent Care FSA for the current plan year, you may log into www.myspendingaccount.wageworks.com and set up an account for your remaining eligible claims. You may substantiate or submit a claim using the dependent care claim reimbursement form, which is available on the secure FSA website. If you do not have a Dependent Care FSA for the current plan year, you will not have access to the FSA portal through the online benefits center.

If you have questions, please contact the Benefits Solution Center (powered by Health Advocate) at 1-866-799-2329.

If You Leave Penn

If you leave the University, your contributions end with your final paycheck. You still have until the September 30 after the end of the plan year in which you terminate to claim expenses.

Health Care FSA

You can submit claims that you incurred prior to leaving Penn, for up to the balance in your account at the time you stopped participating. You can submit claims for expenses incurred after you leave, up to the end of the plan year in which you terminate, only if you elect to continue your contributions to the account under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

Dependent Care FSA

You can submit claims for expenses incurred through the September 15 following the end of the plan year in which you terminate, up to the balance in your account at the time you stopped participating. You cannot continue your contributions under COBRA.