Plan Year 2022 Enrollment Book

1 Plan Year 2022. Enrollment Book Flex spending account Dependent Care Health Care Adoption Advantage account spending account Advantage account Table of Contents 3 About The Flex spending account Important Dates To Remember 4 How To Enroll Open Enrollment period is November 2 through 5 Claims Process November 29, 2021 at 10:00 ET. 6 Worksheets If you are enrolled for the 2021 plan year, you must re-enroll to continue your benefits in 2022. The 2022 plan year runs from January 1 through 7 Manage Your account December 31, 2022. New state employees hired during the open Enrollment period who are unable to enroll by 8 Flex spending account FAQs the November 29 deadline because they have not been assigned a NYS EMPLID may enroll for the 2022 plan year by submitting a 2022. change in status (CIS) application within 60 9 Health Care spending account days of their hire date. The 2022 CIS system will be available beginning on November 30, 2021.

2 14 HCSA FAQs 16 Dependent Care Advantage account 20 DCAA FAQs 22 Adoption Advantage account 23 2022 Open Enrollment Calendar 2 800-358-7202. About The Flex spending account What Is The Flex spending account ? Fees The Flex spending account (FSA) is a negotiated benefit for state There are no fees for employees who participate in the FSA. employees. There are three parts to the FSA the Dependent Care program. The FSA is funded by the Governor's Office of Employee Advantage account (DCAA), the Health Care spending account Relations in cooperation with the state public employee unions. (HCSA), and the Adoption Advantage account . They are types The Legislature and Unified Court System also contribute on of flexible spending accounts, administered in compliance with behalf of their employees. Sections 125 and 129 of the Internal Revenue Code, that give you a way to pay for your dependent care, health care, or adoption FSA Administrator expenses with pre-tax dollars.

3 Enrollment in the FSA is voluntary The State of New York retains the services of an FSA administrator you decide how much to have taken out of your paycheck and to manage the Flex spending account . HealthEquity (formerly put into your accounts. WageWorks) is the FSA administrator. Why Should I Enroll? The FSA administrator reviews and reimburses claims and provides If you are paying for dependent care expenses in order to work, customer service and accounting services. Flex spending account have medical expenses that are not covered by your health participants submit all claims for reimbursement directly to the insurance plan, or are planning to finalize an adoption, you are FSA administrator. paying for those expenses with dollars that have already been During the plan year, the FSA administrator will provide your taxed. By enrolling in the FSA, you will pay for your dependent account balance with each reimbursement check or direct deposit care or health care expenses with whole dollars before federal, stub.

4 You will also receive quarterly and year-end statements that state, and social security taxes are taken from your salary. You detail the activity in your account . will also save on your adoption expenses because you will pay lower federal and state taxes due to your pre-tax contributions (where applicable). Plan Your Contribution Amount Carefully Because of the tax advantages of the FSA, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has strict guidelines for its use. One of these guidelines How Does The Flex spending account Work? is commonly known as the use it or lose it rule. Put simply, if you The FSA is easy to understand and to use. You may choose to contribute pre-tax dollars into your FSA account and then do not enroll in any or all of the three benefit choices. This is how it works: have enough eligible expenses during the plan year to equal the During the open Enrollment period, use the HCSA and DCAA amount you contributed, you will lose the balance remaining in worksheets to estimate your out-of-pocket health care and your account when the plan year ends.

5 That is why it is important dependent care expenses for the calendar year. Based on your to plan carefully before deciding how much to contribute. With estimate, decide how much of your salary you want to set aside careful planning, you can minimize the risk of losing any of your in either or both accounts. For the Adoption Advantage account , contributions. Participants have until March 31, 2023 to submit estimate your qualified adoption expenses for the plan year. Submit any eligible unreimbursed expenses from the 2022 plan year. your Enrollment application online or by calling the toll-free number But remember if you plan properly, you are unlikely to forfeit before the open Enrollment period ends. any of your funds. Each pay period, a regular portion of these amounts will be In addition, if you enroll in more than one FSA benefit, funds can't deducted tax-free from your biweekly paycheck. These deductions be transferred between accounts.

6 Are made before your federal, state, social security, and city (if applicable) income taxes are calculated. The contributions to your FSA are deducted tax-free from your gross pay. Open Enrollment is November 2 through November 29, 2021. 3. About The Flex spending account Effect On Other Benefits Your appeal will be reviewed once it and the supporting Social Security Tax (FICA) documentation are received. You will be notified of the results of Contributions to the FSA may reduce your social security taxes. If so, this review within 30 business days from receipt of your appeal. based on current social security law, social security benefits at your In unusual cases, such as when appeals require additional documentation, the review may take longer than 30 business retirement age may be slightly less as a result of your participation in days. If your appeal is approved, your account will be adjusted as the FSA program.

7 The effect will be minimal and would likely be offset soon as possible. Appeal decisions are based upon whether your by the amounts saved in taxes today. If you are concerned about circumstances and supporting documentation are consistent with this, contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 the FSA rules and IRS regulations governing the plan. or visit New York State Pension Contributions to the FSA have no effect on your New York State pension contributions or benefits. How To Enroll You will need to have your NYS EMPLID, department ID, and Deferred Compensation negotiating unit information available to complete your Enrollment Most employees' contributions to the New York State Deferred application. This information can be found on your most recent Compensation Plan will be unaffected by participation in the FSA paystub. program. In some cases, however, participation in the FSA program Use the worksheets on page 6 to help you estimate your expenses may affect you.

8 The percentage you contribute to the deferred for the plan year. Based on your estimate, decide how much of compensation plan will be applied to a lower salary amount as your salary you want to set aside in your accounts. The amount you a result of your FSA contributions. Since such contributions are choose is taken out of your paycheck through automatic payroll made as a percentage of salary, your deferred compensation deductions. The number of payroll deductions will be determined contribution may be lower, depending on the amount of your based on the number of paychecks you expect to receive during annual salary and the amount you currently contribute to your the plan year and will be made before your state, federal, and social deferred compensation plan. security and city income (if applicable) taxes are calculated. If you SUNY Deferred Annuity Plan expect to be on the state payroll for the entire year, deductions Contributions to the State University of New York's tax-deferred will be taken from a maximum of 24 paychecks.

9 Annuity plan are not affected by participation in the FSA program. You can apply online at or by telephone at 800- 358-7202. Customer service representatives are available Monday Changing Your Coverage through Friday between 8 and 8 ET. Am I permitted to make election changes after the plan year begins? After your application is processed, you will receive a letter from If you have a qualifying event, you may be able to make a change the FSA administrator confirming your annual elections. to your FSA election by submitting a change in status application. Your FSA Enrollment lasts for only one year. Re- Enrollment is not Can I enroll during the plan year? automatic. If you have a change in status event that occurs after the open Enrollment period ends, you may be able to enroll during the plan Important Reminder year. Please refer to the respective HCSA and DCAA sections for IRS regulations do not allow exceptions if you miss the open specific information on changes in status.

10 Enrollment deadline, regardless of your reason. Enroll early to avoid long hold times or other issues that may occur during the Appeal Process last few days of the open Enrollment period that could cause you If your change in status, claim, or other request is denied, in full to miss the deadline. or in part, you have the right to appeal the decision by sending a written request to the FSA administrator. Contact customer service for information on how to submit your appeal. Your appeal must include: The name of your employer State of New York The date of the services for which your request was denied A copy of the denied request The denial letter you received Why you think your request should not have been denied Any additional documents, information, or comments you think may be relevant to your appeal 4 800-358-7202. Claims Process How Do I Submit My FSA Expenses For 31 to submit claims for services rendered from January 1 through Reimbursement?