Beginning September 1, 2019, new employees who enroll in a TexFlex Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Limited Flexible Spending Account will be subject to a 60-day waiting period, the same as when enrolling in health insurance.
The TexFlex plan provided by the ERS allows employees to set aside money from their paycheck on a pre-tax basis to pay for eligible health care and dependent day care expenses.
Employees can set up an FSA health care account and/or an FSA dependent day care account when hired, during open enrollment each year or within 31 days of a qualifying life event (QLE). Employees can pay for eligible health care or dependent day care expenses from the pre-tax money that they have contributed to their TexFlex account(s).
Employees who enroll in the Consumer Directed HealthSelect health plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA) my enroll in a Limited Flexible Spending Account that may be used for only eligible dental and vision expenses.
Beginning September 1, 2019, all new hires or rehires who are subject to a health coverage waiting period will also have a waiting period for a TexFlex health care or limited flexible spending account if they enroll in one. Just like for health coverage, the effective date of the health care or limited FSA will be the first of the month following their 60th day of employment. If the 60th day of employment falls on the first day of the month, the account will activate on that day. The waiting period does not apply to the TexFlex dependent care account or commuter spending account.
Contributions not claimed may be forfeited, so careful planning is critical. A complete list of eligible and ineligible TexFlex expenses can be found at www.ers.state.tx.us/TexFlex.
Back to Top