Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) allow you to make an annual election to set aside money from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis that can be used to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses. The funds must be used within the calendar year, or they are forfeited. 

GW offers two types of FSAs, administered through Bank of America:

• Health Care FSA (HCFSA) - may be used to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses (including medical, dental, vision, hearing and prescription drug expenses) for you, your spouse and your eligible tax dependents.
• Dependent Day Care FSA (DCFSA) - may be used to pay for eligible child and adult care expenses while you and your spouse work; this includes day care, before and after school care, nursery school, preschool and summer day camp.  If an elderly parent lives with a participant and relies on that person for at least 50 percent of their support, then the DCFSA may be used for that elderly parent’s day care expenses.

*Dependent day care flexible spending account plans (DCFSA) are subject to Internal Revenue Code nondiscrimination requirements. Under the Code, DCFSAs must not discriminate in favor of highly paid and key employees with respect to plan eligibility, pre-tax contributions or benefits. Based on the result of the annual testing, the annual maximums of the highly compensated employees may be reduced to ensure the plan remains equitable.

Eligibility and Enrollment

You may elect one or both FSAs as a new benefits-eligible employee, during Open Enrollment or following a Qualified Life Event. FSA elections are made through the online GW Benefits Enrollment System.

Reminder: Health Savings Account (HSA) participants cannot participate in the HCFSA. However, if you are enrolled in the GW Health Savings Plan (HSP), and are not eligible for the HSA, you may be eligible to participate in the HCFSA.

Filing Claims

• You can file a claim with  Bank of America via the MyHealth app, on the member website, by mail or by fax.
• Attach the appropriate documentation including an explanation of benefits (EOB), receipt or invoice.
• Documentation must include provider or full name of product, patient name, amount and date(s) of service.
• Cancelled checks, credit card receipt or balance due statement will not be accepted in lieu of an itemized bill or receipt.
• Statements showing only a previous balance are not acceptable documentation.