Flexible Spending Accounts

About Flexible Spending Accounts

Sometimes called flexible reimbursement accounts, flexible spending accounts (FSA) allow you to set aside money to pay for certain kinds of medical, dental, and dependent-care expenses before taxes are assessed on that income.

Creating an online account is a great way to help manage your FSA. To create your new account, visit and select 鈥淚 am an Individual.鈥 From the login box dropdown menu, select 鈥淔SA, HSA, HRA, and Commuter Accounts.鈥 Once you are on the Login webpage, click 鈥淕et Started鈥 in the New User section.

Contributions are made throughout the calendar year, and eligible expenses must be incurred within that calendar year or within the grace period. If you don鈥檛 use all the eligible funds from your account, the remaining amount is forfeited. You can take advantage of your FSA by either using Sentinel鈥檚 FSA debit card (the Benny Card), paying your bill first and uploading your receipt online, or downloading and submitting a claim form.

Download Sentinel鈥檚 FSA Participant Guide (PDF)

Plan Documents for the Flores 2025 plan

CARES Act Updates

The CARES Act (PDF), which took effect on March 27, 2020, now permits FSA and HSA reimbursement of over-the-counter products without a prescription, including menstrual products.

Eligibility

  • Full- or half-time faculty or professional staff.
  • Covers expenses for self, spouse, and dependent children.
  • Your contributions will stop on the last day you physically worked in a benefits-eligible position. Employees whose benefits-eligible position ends during the plan year have until May 30 of the following year to submit expenses incurred through their last day of physical work in the benefits-eligible position for both dependent care expenses and medical expenses.
  • Please review the Summary Plan Description (PDF), the FSA Summary of Eligible Items (PDF), and the Wrap Summary Plan Description (PDF) for more eligibility and plan details, and consult with Human Resources for specific situations.

Medical FSA

As an eligible employee, you can elect between a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $3,400 (2026) in a calendar year on a pre-tax basis for certain health care needs for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent children (up to the age of 26). Please note that you may not opt for a Medical FSA account if you are participating in an HSA medical plan. For more information, review the Health Care FSA Guide (PDF) and the FSA Eligible Items (PDF).

Dependent Care FSA

Eligible employees can elect between a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $7,500 in a calendar year on a pre-tax basis for certain care needs of dependent children through the age of 12. For more information, review the Dependent Care FSA Guide (PDF).

Consult with your tax advisor regarding your limit.

  • $7,500 per plan year if single or married filing jointly
  • $3,750 per plan year if married filing separately

Dependent Care FSA Eligibility

To be eligible for the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA), the IRS requires that both spouses (if married) be working. If one spouse is not working, you are not eligible to participate in the DCFSA unless one of the following exceptions applies:

  • The non-working spouse is a full-time student (enrolled for at least five months during the tax year), or
  • The non-working spouse is medically incapable of self-care (e.g., unable to dress, feed, or bathe themselves without assistance)

If neither exception applies, eligibility resumes once the non-working spouse returns to work.

Note: The IRS allows a limited exception for periods when one spouse is actively looking for work. This may require documentation and is not guaranteed under all plans. Please contact Sentinel, our FSA administrator, at 1 (888) 762-6088 for more information.

Grace Period

The University of New England has added a time extension at the end of the plan year during which you may incur eligible expenses and be reimbursed from your FSA. After our January 1 to December 31 plan year, we have a 2.5-month grace period.

This means that you have until March 15 to incur medical or dependent expenses and until May 30 to submit any claims incurred during the previous plan year or during the grace period.

Other FSA Resources

FSA FAQ

The following provides a summary of commonly asked questions, but you must consult your plan documents or a Human Resources representative for full details about eligible expenses, enrollment, and other information.

When is the typical plan year for flexible spending accounts?

The plan year runs from January 1 to December 31. However, 91制片厂 offers a grace period for individuals to incur expenses and submit claims after the end of the typical plan year.

When can I sign up to participate in a flexible spending account?

Flexible spending accounts work in the same way as health and dental insurances; you can sign up for a flexible spending account at your time of hire, during open enrollment, or when you have a qualifying event, such as marriage, birth or adoption of a child, change in eligibility for insurance, loss of other coverage, etc.

I elected $300 for my medical flexible spending account (FSA) last year, and I didn鈥檛 use it all or forgot to submit the claims for reimbursement. Can I get back the money I didn鈥檛 use or submit for reimbursement for the money I did use?

You have until March 15 of the next plan year to incur costs for the previous plan year (i.e.: until March 15, 2027, to incur costs against your 2026 deductions). You have until May 30 of the next plan year to submit for reimbursement all charges for the previous regular plan year or the grace period. If your charges or submission fall outside of these dates, or you do not use all your money, the remaining balance will be forfeited. 

Will my elected flexible spending amounts carry over from year to year or do I need to elect them annually?

You need to elect your medical and/or dependent care flexible spending account amounts annually during the open enrollment process. If you do not re-elect your benefits during open enrollment,  you will not have a flexible spending account for the following calendar year.

My child takes advantage of an after school program because I can鈥檛 leave work in time to pick them up after school. Can I elect FSA to cover the cost of the after school program?

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts are available for childcare costs for children up to the age of 12 (ends on their 13th birthday). Most after-school programs qualify for reimbursement. To be sure, contact Sentinel (the administrator of 91制片厂鈥檚 plan) at 1 (888) 762-6088.

My child is under 12 and going to an overnight summer camp instead of regular day care. This still allows me to work while they are away. Does this qualify for reimbursement?聽

Although this program allows you to work, overnight programs are not eligible for dependent care flexible spending reimbursement. Most day camps, including sports camps, usually are. To be sure, contact Sentinel (the administrator of 91制片厂鈥檚 plan) at 1 (888) 762-6088.