Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

TASC is the third part administrator for the Flexible Spending Account. 

Contact TASC for questions regarding eligible expenses, claim submission, documentation requirements for expenses, or the status of claims & reimbursements. 

• Customer Service:  877-401-9807, Monday through Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (PST)
• 24/7 online account access https://www.tasconline.com/
• Automated account information available toll-free: 800-422-4661
• Fax Number: 608-661-9601

Contact the Human Resources Benefits Unit for questions regarding electronic enrollment through Employee Self-Service, enrollment eligibility, change in election due to a qualifying event, or to update/change your mailing address.

• (707) 565-2900 or
• E-Mail:  benefits@sonoma-county.org

Health Accounts cover medical, dental and vision expenses that are only partially covered or not covered at all by your insurance, including insurance deductibles, insurance co-payments and over-the-counter medications.

Health FSA Annual Election Amount

If you make an election under the Health FSA, the amount that you elect will be immediately credited to the account in your name. Starting on the first day of the Plan Year, you will be entitled to be reimbursed for claims up to the entire elected amount at any time during the Plan Year, even if the total salary reduction contributions that you have made to your Health FSA are less than the total amount of claims that you have submitted.

Please Note: The Health Flexible Spending Account is the only account where participants have access to their full annual election immediately. All other accounts accrue the election amount on a per pay deduction basis.

Plan Year (Benefit Period): January 1 - December 31
Coverage Period: Eligibility Start Date through the Eligibility End Date

The Eligibility Start Date is January 1 for all elections made during the Annual Enrollment Period or before the first day of the Plan Year. For any enrollment elections or changes made during the plan year, the Eligibility Start Date is the first of the month following your election.

The Eligibility End Date is December 31 (the last day of the plan year). Coverage ends as of your termination date if your employment ends. See Benefits Upon Separation page for further details.

Please Note: Only eligible Health Care expenses/costs that are incurred during the participant’s Coverage Period are eligible for reimbursement.

Important Dates

Last Day to incur expenses: December 31 of the plan year or Eligibility End Date (if contributions stopped)
Last Day to submit claims: March 31 following the plan year (for expenses incurred during the Coverage Period.

Carry Forward Amount (if eligible): Up to $640 (remaining amounts in excess of $640 will be forfeited)

The Health FSA plan allows active participants to carry forward up to $640 of unspent funds to the following year, providing the following eligibility criteria are met:

• Must be an active participant on December 31 of the plan year
• Must make a contribution on the last Pay Date of the plan year; through payroll deduction, COBRA premium, or OTC (Over-the-Counter) payment.

• Medical expenses: co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles
• Dental expenses: exams, cleanings, X-rays, and braces
• Vision expenses: exams, contact lenses and supplies, eyeglasses, and laser eye surgery

For a more extensive elgibility expenses list, refer to the TASC Eligible Expenses List

Expense eligibility is subject to change

If you are unsure if an expense is eligible for reimbursement, please call the TASC at (877) 401-9807 or visit www.tasonline.com

Insurance company statement or Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Itemized bill from the provider showing date of service, services rendered, provider of service, amount aid and, if applicable, amount covered by insurance

Prescription claims MUST include the Rx pharmacy receipt with Rx number. Credit card receipts are not acceptable.

Beneshop

TASC has partnered with beneshop to make shopping for healthcare products easier and more affordable.

Beneshop gives participants the ability to purchase FSA eligible products from a wide variety of retailers and brands all in one location. Beneshop helps consumers to find the lowest cost option for health-eligible products ensuring participants maximize their pre-tax benefits.

Dependent Care Accounts cover amounts you pay to daycare centers, after school programs, babysitters, caregivers or elder care so that you and your spouse can work.

Maximum Annual Contribution

The maximum annual contribution is $5,000 ($2,500 if you are married and file separate income tax returns), but no more than the lesser of the earned income of you or your spouse. If your spouse is a full-time student or incapacitated, the maximum annual election is $3,000 for one child or $5,000 for two or more children. (Amounts subject to change due to IRS guidelines.)

Plan Year (Benefit Period): January 1 - December 31
Grace Period (if eligible): January 1 - March 15 following plan year

Important Dates

Last Day to incur expenses:

• December 31 (if not eligible for the Grace Period), or
• March 15 following plan year (if eligible for Grace Period)

Last Day to submit claims: March 31 following plan year

Grace Period

The Grace Period for the Dependent Care FSA provides eligible participants with an additional 2 1/2 months (January 1 to March 15) to incur dependent care expenses for reimbursement from their Dependent Care FSA.

The Grace Period is applicable for the Dependent Care FSA only, if the following eligibility criteria are met:

• Must be an active participant as of December 31;
• Made a contributions during the entire plan year through payroll deduction or OTC (over the counter) payment.

Dependent care expenses must be provided to Qualifying Individuals. A Qualifying Individual is defined as any of the following:

1. A person under age 13 who is your “qualifying child” under the Internal Revenue Code (the “code”). i.e., (a) he or she has the same principal residence as you for more than half the year, (b) he or she is your child or step-child (by blood or adoption), foster child, sibling or step-sibling, or a descendant of one of them; and (c) he or she does not provide more than half of his or her own support for the year.
   
   If you are divorced or separated, you must be the primary custodial parent of your child in order to be eligible for this account (irrespective of whether which parent may claim a personal exemption for the child on his or her federal income tax return). Non-custodial parents may wish to check with your legal or tax advisor to see if special rules apply to you that would enable you to utilize this account.
2. Your spouse if he or she is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and has the same principal abode as you for more than half the year.
3. A person who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care, has the same principal abode as you for more than half the year and is your tax dependent under the Code (for this purpose, status as a tax dependent is determined without regard to the gross income limitation for a “qualifying relative” and certain other provisions of the Code’s definition). 

Dependent Care Accounts cover amounts you pay to daycare centers, after school programs, babysitters, caregivers or elder care so that you and your spouse can work.

A claim must include the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the dependent care service provider. In the case of a babysitter, the taxpayer identification number is the babysitter’s Social Security number. If you cannot remit a copy of your bill/contract, our daycare provider can sign your claim form which you can then upload as your “receipt.”

If you pay for an eligible expense out-of-pocket without the TASC Card submit a request for reimbursement along with substantiation through one of the following methods: TASC  mobile app, TASC Website, mail or fax a personalized paper request form (download via your account).

Participant Resources

• Eligible Expenses list
• FSA Enrollment Form
• Recurring Claim Form
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account Guidelines
• TASC Mobile App - MyCash
• Using your MyCash Account 
• Orthodontia Expenses Instructions & Worksheet

A Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a pre-tax benefits account that you can use to pay for eligible medical, dental, and vision care expenses that aren’t covered by your health insurance plan. FSA accounts are exempt from federal taxes, Social Security (FICA) taxes, and, in most cases, state income taxes. The money in an FSA can be used for eligible health and/or dependent care expenses that are incurred while you are participating in the plan.

All full-time and part-time employees in an allocated position of .40 full-time equivalent (FTE) or greater are eligible to participate in the FSA Annual Enrollment.

Extra help employees and Retirees are not eligible to participate.

To participate, you must enroll within 31 days of you date of hire or elect to participate during the Annual Enrollment period which usually occurs in October. If you have a life event change (for example, birth or adoption of a child) then you may be able to enroll without waiting for the Annual Enrollment period, if you request enrollment within 31 days of the change.

The Health FSA contribution limit is $3,300.

The Dependent Care FSA contribution limit is $5,000 per household (or $2,500 if married, filing a separate tax return). Your total contribution cannot be more than your earned income or your spouse's earned income, whichever is less.

You may enroll in the County of Sonoma's FSA plan even if you currently waive our medical coverage and receive your medical coverage another way.

To be eligible, you (and your spouse, if married) must work, be looking for work, or attend school full-time.

An eligible dependent under the Dependent Care FSA is defined as one of the following:

• A child under the age of 13 whom you can claim as an exemption for income tax purposes.
• A dependent under the age of 13 of whom you have custody for more than half of the year if you are divorced or legally separated.
• A dependent who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care (regardless of age).
• Your spouse who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.