To our policyholders in areas affected by the recent hurricanes, please know that the thoughts and prayers of everyone at Aflac are with you. We are working with government agencies that represent all declared disaster areas to ensure we do everything possible to help you. Based on that guidance, we have extended the due dates for policy premiums by 60 days for those living in places that have been declared disaster areas. If you have a question about your policy or need help, contact us at 800-992-3522. To help with the recovery, Aflac made a $500,000 donation to the American Red Cross, and our employees are making their own private contributions. Please be safe, as the care of you and your families is paramount.
Aflac helps companies administer premium-only plans and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) provided by WageWorks®, a preferred partner of Aflac.
With Aflac cafeteria plans, you can reduce your employees’ taxable income, thereby reducing your share of FICA and FUTA taxes. This could mean a savings for you and your employees. The administration of flexible spending account plans doesn’t have to be complicated. WageWorks can work with you to implement and assist with administration of a Flexible Spending Account plan at minimal cost.
Not only do you enhance your employee benefit plan by making Aflac insurance policies available to your employees on a pre-tax basis, but you actually save money too. Extend your offering and savings with Unreimbursed Medical (URM) and Dependent Day Care (DDC) FSAs.
Convenience and ease of use are essential to attaining high usage rates with your flexible spending account plan. The takecare® Card is a fast and easy way for participating employees to access Unreimbursed Medical (URM) funds at the point of purchase. It looks and works like a credit card, eliminating the need for your employees to use out-of-pocket dollars to pay for eligible medical, dental and prescription expenses. Your company benefits by reducing the administrative costs associated with managing a paper process and your employees benefit by accessing their URM funds directly. There is no need to wait for claims to be processed and funds to be reimbursed.
For fees associated with WageWorks’ consumer-directed benefit accounts such as Cafeteria Plans, click here. To learn more about Flexible Spending Accounts offered through WageWorks, call 855.299.4385 or visit www.wageworks.com/employers/benefits.
Employers offering Cafeteria Plans can amend their plan documents to reflect recent changes enacted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The documents below are sample amendments covering transition and health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) carryover rule changes.
Note: All sample cafeteria plan amendments provided by Aflac are for illustrative purposes only. Employers can use them as templates and adapt them to meet specific plan and factual needs. Employers should contact their legal, tax or benefit advisors for information and guidance on amendments. Aflac cannot give tax or legal advice.
Under the transition rule, employers can amend Section 125 cafeteria plans to provide a one-time special enrollment (transition) to allow employees to change accident and health plan coverage elections in accordance with IRS regulations. This rule applies to the revocation, modification or commencement of salary reductions for accident and health plan coverage offered through cafeteria plans with the fiscal year beginning in 2013. This rule does not apply to any other qualified benefit offered through the cafeteria plan. See IRS Notice 2013-71 for more information.
Employers can amend Section 125 cafeteria plans to provide a carryover of up to $500 of unused health FSA amounts into the next cafeteria plan year (immediately following the previous plan year only). The carryover can be used to pay or reimburse for health FSA medical expenses incurred during the entire plan year in which it is carried over. The carryover does not count against the annual $2,550 (indexed) salary reduction for the new year.
Plans that adopt the carryover provision are not permitted to provide a grace period with respect to health FSAs. For plan years beginning in 2013, the amendment can be adopted at any time on or before the last day of the plan year beginning in 2014. Plan participants must also be informed of the carryover provision. See IRS Notice 2013-71 for more information.
This is general information about an evolving topic and does not constitute legal, tax or accounting advice regarding any specific situation. Aflac cannot anticipate all the facts that a particular employer or individual will have to consider in their benefits decision-making process. We strongly encourage readers to discuss their Health Care Reform situations with their advisors to determine the actions they need to take or to visit healthcare.gov (which may also be contacted at 800.318.2596) for additional information.
