A Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA) is a great tool for helping you manage your heath care budget. With an HCRA, you have the ability to contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical expenses including prescriptions, doctor’s office copays, health insurance deductibles, coinsurance, some over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and much more. As an added benefit, the the Flexible Employees’ Benefits Board provides a $50.00 credit to any member who enrolls in the HCRA with a minimum annual contribution of $120.00.
Here's a list of relevant topics mentioned in the Planbook
See Planbook for more topics. Additional information can be found here.
During open enrollment (November 1 - November 30), you will decide how much to contribute to your HCRA via payroll deductions for the upcoming year. While enrolling online, you will elect the Per Pay Period Amount, which will be deducted from your paycheck monthly or twice a month (depending on your pay schedule) and the deduction is made before taxes are withheld. This amount will be deposited into your HCRA. There are no user fees associated with this account.
When you incur out-of-pocket eligible health care expenses, you will be reimbursed from your HCRA. When your claim is submitted to ConnectYourCare (CYC) they will reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses according to your HCRA plan.
The minimum acceptable HCRA deduction is $5.00 per family per pay period. The maximum acceptable HCRA deduction is $110.42 per family per pay period.
New employees enrolling in the HCRA, after the plan year has started, must have a minimum contribution of $120 annually with the maximum contribution being $2,700 annually.
The term “eligible employee” includes only: Full-time and part-time State employees who receive their compensation through means of a State warrant drawn upon the State Treasury. (For purposes of the HCRA and the DCRA, part-time employees may be excluded from participation by IRS rules. Part-time employees should consult their tax advisor before enrolling in the HCRA or the DCRA.) Members of the Legislature and the Lieutenant Governor are eligible during their term of office.
Exclusions - You are not eligible for coverage if you are classified on the State of Alabama’s records as an employee employed on a seasonal, temporary, intermittent, emergency or contract basis.
Includes your spouse or any other person that you claim for Federal Income Tax purposes.
Annual Open Enrollment is held in November for coverages to be effective January 1 of each year. Open enrollment applies to eligible employees who wish to change coverages, add coverages, or delete coverages.
New employees may enroll within 90 days of employment, with coverage effective the first day of the month following the receipt of the enrollment.
Once an employee enrolls, the election remains in effect until January 1 of the following year (the Plan Year), under IRS regulations, unless the employee has a qualifying change in status. This means that you may not change your insurance coverage or participation except when you are permitted due to a qualifying change in status or during Open Enrollment. The change in your election must be consistent with the change in your status.
Qualifying changes in status include:
If a qualifying change in status occurs, the employee must submit a Revoke Election Form certifying the status change. This form must be submitted to the Flexible Employees’ Benefits Board within 30 days of the event.
If you are not enrolled, but you want to enroll following a change in your status, complete the Salary Reduction Agreement, and send it to the Flexible Employees’ Benefits Board within 30 days of the event. Attach a letter explaining your status change.
Approved changes are effective the first of the month following receipt of the forms by the Flexible Employees’ Benefits Board.
Your election to participate terminates on the earliest of the following dates:
