SCARE-HRA

A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is a County-funded health benefit plan that you can use to pay, or be reimbursed, for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses (for example medical, dental and vision expenses) not covered by insurance. The HRA is available to you and/or your eligible dependents.

• Your spouse.
• Your own child, stepchild, adopted child, child lawfully placed for adoption, or eligible foster child, regardless of the child's marital or student status or whether or not the child is claimed as a dependent on your taxes up to age 26.
• An eligible dependent of a retiree who is the subject of a "qualified medical child support order," even if the child does not otherwise qualify under Code section 152.
• Any other "dependent" defined under Internal Revenue Code section 152, which may include an unregistered domestic partner.
• Your domestic partner if your domestic partnership is registered in accordance with California Family Code section 297. See below for special tax rules for registered domestic partners who are not "dependents" under IRC section 152.

The P&A Group has been selected to be the SCARE-HRA Plan Administrator. Customer service representatives will be available beginning July 1, 2017, Monday through Friday 5:30 AM - 7:00 PM Pacific Time. To speak to a customer service representative about your SCARE-HRA account, call toll-free 1-800-688-2611 or visit the P&A Group website, www.padmin.com, to chat online with a representative.

The Settlement Agreement provides for three lump sum contributions to your account. The first payment of approximately $1,000 will be available for use on July 1, 2017.

Two additional lump sum contributions to your account will be available for use on July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. The actual amount of the contributions for 2018 and 2019 will be determined based upon the number of eligible participants at that time.

Examples of eligible healthcare expenses that can be paid for or reimbursed includes co-insurance, co-pays, hospital bills, prescriptions, dental expenses, vision expenses, and health insurance premiums (including medical, dental, vision and long-term care). A more comprehensive list can be found in Publication 502 on the IRS website. A list of common eligible and ineligible expenses can be found on this web page. Remember, only eligible expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2017 are eligible for SCARE-HRA reimbursement.

Yes, if your domestic partnership is registered under the California Family Code Section 297 and/or if your domestic partner is your tax dependent under Internal Revenue Code Section 152, you may submit your domestic partner's expenses for HRA reimbursement. However, if your registered domestic partner is NOT also your tax dependent under Internal Revenue Code section152 and you wish to submit your registered domestic partner's expenses for reimbursement, the fair market value of your HRA account will be subject to tax and its value will be reported to you on a Form W-2. If you intend to submit claims on behalf of your registered domestic partner who is not, your tax dependent, you must submit the enclosed Certification of Federal Tax Dependent Status and Election of HRA Coverage for your Domestic Partner.

Yes, there is a monthly fee of $2.95 which will be deducted from your SCARE-HRA account until there is a zero balance in your account. You are encouraged to file claims as quickly as possible to minimize fees, but you may leave money in your HRA as long as you like.

The P&A Group will issue you a benefits card in late June 2017. Just like a credit or debit card, your benefits card will arrive in a plain white envelope. Additional benefits cards for your spouse and dependents over age 18 can be requested from P&A Group after you receive your initial card.

Your P&A Group benefits card is the most convenient way to receive funds from your SCARE-HRA account. The P&A Group benefits card works like a debit card and can be used to pay directly for an eligible healthcare expense by presenting your benefits card to the provider of the goods or services you are purchasing. When you swipe your card at the point of-service, the expense will be automatically deducted from your HRA account balance, eliminating the need for you to file a reimbursement claim form.

Not all physicians, hospitals and pharmacies are able to accept this type of benefits card. This benefit card is a limited access card and can be used only at pre-approved locations. Although many hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, opticians, and general merchants have been pre-approved, if your card cannot be used at the point of sale or service, you can incur the expense and submit a reimbursement claim. The benefits card will also not work if you attempt to purchase an ineligible item or if you swipe the card for more than the available balance. If this occurs, you can file an online reimbursement claim or complete a paper claim form.

Your benefits card is available for use beginning on July 1, 2017 and will automatically activate the first time you use it. Like a credit card, you should retain this card until it expires. The benefits card is good for three years from the date of issue. Please do NOT throw this benefits card away after you have spent your 2017 HRA account balance, as you will be able to use this same benefits card when future contributions are made to your SCARE-HRA account in 2018 and 2019. If your benefits card expires and you still have an account balance, you will be issued a new benefits card.

If your benefits card is lost or stolen, please immediately notify P&A so your benefits card can be deactivated and a new benefits card will be issued to you.

To submit a claim for reimbursement you have several options:

1. Online Claims Submission - You can electronically submit a claim form, which results in faster reimbursement than a mailed claim form.
   
   On or after July 1, 2017, you may log into www.padmin.com and create your P&A account. Once you have an account, you can submit a claim electronically from your mobile phone, tablet or computer.
   
   Please note that all electronic claim submissions will require an electronic copy of bills or receipts for eligible healthcare expenses. To create an electronic copy of your bills or receipts, you use either a scanner or take a picture of your bills or receipts. Once you have saved a scanned copy or a picture to your computer, tablet or smart phone you are ready to complete the claim form and upload your bill or receipts. 
   
   Go to your account on the www.padmin.com website, click on Employee Participants and select Submit a claim. Please note the following:
   1. Not all mobile claim upload features are currently available on all mobile devices or with all operating systems.
   2. Wireless carrier fees may apply.
   3. Requires at least a 2-megapixel camera to create readable documents for electronic claims submission.
2. Paper Forms - You can also complete a paper claim form and attach a copy of your bills or receipts for eligible healthcare expenses. A claim form is enclosed. Additional claim forms can be found at www.padmin.com. To submit your claims:
   1. FAX your claim form (available at www.padmin.com) and your bills or receipts to (877) 855-7105; or
   2. MAIL your claim form and copies of your bills or receipts to: P&A Group, 17 Court St. Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14202. Please note manual claims take 3-5 business days to process. When submitting a manual claim, you will have the option of receiving a check or direct deposit.
      
      Whichever way you decide to submit a reimbursement claim, if you would like your reimbursement to be directly deposited into your checking or savings account, please visit www.padmin.com and log on to your account to enroll in direct deposit. You can also print the direct deposit authorization form on the website, www.padmin.com, and submit it with your claim. By authorizing direct deposit, all of your claim reimbursements will be deposited into your specified account. Enrolling in direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your reimbursement.

Yes. In order to sign up for automatic reimbursement of your monthly insurance premiums, submit a claim form with a note that you are submitting a "monthly reimbursement request." In addition to the claims form, you must also submit a copy of the County's Annual Enrollment Confirmation statement., as proof of the premium cost for your monthly premiums. One this monthly reimbursement is established, you will be reimbursed automatically for the cost of your premiums. Reimbursement will continue automatically for the cost of your premiums. Reimbursement will continue automatically as long as you have an available balance in your HRA Account.

If you log into the www.padmin.com website and see other HRA accounts under you name, these accounts were established for you while you were working for the County of Sonoma. If you have multiple HRA accounts, whether you submit a paper claim form or use your P&A Group benefits card, your reimbursements will automatically be deducted from the SCARE-HRA account first.

Please note: any HRA account that is labeled as "restricted", such as the HRA $10 account or the HRA 2009 account, requires activation before you can begin receiving reimbursement. To activate a restricted HRA account, please call Human Resources Benefits Unit at (707) 565-2900.