Payflex.com

Important Information for Your Upcoming
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Enrollment

As you may have heard, there is new legislation going into effect on January 1, 2011 which impacts healthcare
FSAs. Here’s what’s happening. Certain over-the-counter items will require a prescription* to be considered
an eligible FSA expense. The information below is important for you to know as you begin to think about your
healthcare FSA contribution for this year’s enrollment.
How does this new legislation impact me?
It impacts you two ways:
1. Setting Your Contribution
Because OTC drugs and medicines will require a prescription beginning January 1, 2011, you might want to consider this when deciding on your healthcare FSA contribution. 2. Using Your Account Dollars
• OTC drugs and medicines are eligible for reimbursement without a prescription. • Healthcare debit cards, (e.g., PayFlex Card™) can be used to purchase eligible OTC drugs and medicines. • Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medicines will be considered ineligible expenses unless you have a
prescription from your physician. OTC Drugs and Medicines Requiring a Prescription
• Healthcare debit cards, (e.g., PayFlex Card™) cannot be used to purchase OTC drugs and medicines. If a healthcare debit card is used to pay for these items after January 1, 2011, the transaction will be denied at the point-of-sale. In this case, you will need to pay for the expense out-of-pocket and submit a claim to receive reimbursement.
Does this mean all OTC items will be ineligible after January 1, 2011?
No, many OTC items will continue to be considered eligible expenses and will not require a prescription. See “Eligible
Healthcare Expenses” within this communication for examples.

*Please note: The documentation required for a prescribed OTC drug or medicine is still being clarified by the IRS. More
information will be provided as it becomes available.

Eligible Healthcare Expenses

Following is a condensed listing of eligible healthcare expenses. For a more complete listing, visit the participant portal.
Please note this listing is subject to change at any time and without notice due to new legislation.
Effective January 1, 2011, the list of items that will require a prescription includes, but is not limited to acne medicine; allergy
medicine; cough, cold & flu medicine; eye drops; indigestion medicine; laxatives; nasal sprays, drops; ointment for cuts, burns, Items that will remain eligible without a prescription include, but are not limited to band aids, birth control, braces & supports, contact lens solutions & supplies, elastic bandages & wraps, first aid supplies, and reading glasses. Acupuncture
Guide dog or other animal used to assist
Health institute
Schools and education, special (for
Bandages, band-aids, wraps and splints
mentally impaired or physically disabled Insulin, syringes
Birth control pills (Norplant, ovulation Laboratory fees
Chiropractor professional fees
Surgical fees (for legal operations not cosmetic in nature) Cold medicine (see notice above)
Therapy, physical or speech
Meals (only as part of inpatient hospital
Dental treatment (includes exams, x-
rays, fillings, root canals, gum disease Treatment for learning disability caused Nursing home (if necessary for medical
care and only the portion for medical
Drugs (prescription drugs, insulin; see Over-the-counter Drugs/Medicines; Operations (legal operations that are not
Vaccinations
Eye surgery (includes cataract, LASIK,
Weight-loss program (only if medically
Pain reliever (for arthritis pain,
Fertility treatments (ovulation predictor
or joint pain, e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen; supplements) (see notice above)
X-ray fees

Source: https://www.payflex.com/forms/announce/OTC_Participant_Communication.pdf