2024 FLEX SPENDING OPEN ENROLLMENT

The 2024 Flexible Spending Open Enrollment will end on December 11, 2023 at 11:59 P.M.

The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) provides three pre-tax opportunities for employees to enroll in- the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA), the Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA), and the new Adoption Advantage Account.

Employees may choose to enroll in one, two or all three accounts. Paperless enrollment makes it easy for employees to apply online or through a toll-free number.

For detailed information regarding the Flexible Spending Account, please view the FSA Enrollment Booklet.

Health Care Spending Account

The annual contribution that an employee may make to the HCSA is $3,050 for the 2024 plan year. The maximum contribution may change annually since it is indexed to inflation. Contributions are made through pre-tax payroll deductions and may be used for eligible health care expenses that are not covered by a health insurance plan.

Employees who newly enroll in the HCSA for 2024 will be issued a preloaded debit card. For those who participated in the HCSA in 2023, your current card will remain active upon re-enrollment.  Employees can use the card to pay for eligible health care products, medical services, and prescriptions right from their account instead of paying with cash or a credit card. The card cannot be used to pay for dental, orthodontia, dependent care, or adoption expenses. However, paper claim forms and receipts can be submitted online for approval. 

Over the counter drugs and medicines are eligible for reimbursement without a written prescription through the HCSA. For more information regarding eligible expenses, please visit flexspend.ny.gov.

Dependent Care Advantage Account

State employees may contribute up to $5,000 per year per household in the DCAA for elder care, disabled dependent care, or childcare expenses. Employee contributions are deducted biweekly from the gross pay and deposited into the appropriate account. After eligible services have been received, the employee submits a claim form for reimbursement.

The DCAA employer contribution will be available in 2024 for unions that participate in the employer contribution program. The following employees are currently eligible for the employer contribution:

• State University of New York employees who are designated M/C or represented by PEF, CSEA, UUP, GSEU, NYSCOPBA, or DC-37

The employer contribution may be available to state employees in other bargaining units for the 2024 plan year pending conclusion of negotiations and ratified contracts. Based on salary, the employer contribution will provide up to $1,000 for eligible employees who enroll in the DCAA.

For employer contribution updates, please visit the FSA website at www.flexspend.ny.gov or call (800)358-7202.

Adoption Advantage Account

Eligible state employees may contribute up to $15,950 in the Adoption Advantage Account for the 2024 plan year. Contributions are made through pre-tax payroll deductions and may be used for expenses related to the adoption of an eligible child.

Carryover and Grace Period

HCSA Carryover

Unused contributions will carryover to the next plan year for you to use. During the plan year runout period (January 1- March 31), the previous year funds may still be used for previous year expenses. Any remaining funds up to the IRS limit from the previous year will then carryover into the current plan year's account balance after the runout period end date. During the runout, the new plan year election will be depleted first, then carryover funds will be accessible for reimbursement. For participants who did not re-enroll, carryover funds will be available after the runout period ends. The current IRS carryover limit from 2023 into 2024 is $610.

DCAA and Adoption Grace Period

The grace period allows an additional 2.5 months to incur dependent care or adoption-related expenses. You can use any funds remaining in your account after the plan year ends to pay for expenses incurred between January 1 to March 15 of the following year. Claims must be submitted by the March 31 deadline.

If you are interested in newly enrolling in the plan, or you want to continue your enrollment in 2024, you must register by the deadline (December 11th at 11:59 p.m.). To register, you must visit www.flexspend.ny.gov and provide the following information:

New York State ID# (Begins with the letter N)
Department Code (listed as Agency Code)
Negotiating Unit Code

All of the required information can be found on your pay stub. To view, log into SOLAR and click Payroll and Compensation, then View Paycheck.