HCSA is a voluntary program that allows state employees to set aside a portion of their income per calendar year to pay for non-covered health-related expenses on a pre-tax basis. When you enroll in HCSA, the money is deducted from your paycheck before taxes, thus lowering your tax withholding and increasing your take-home pay. As you incur medically-related costs, you submit receipts for reimbursement from your Health Care Spending Account.

It is important that you estimate your expenses carefully. Any unused funds in your account at the end of the plan year are forfeited.

Eligible expenses are defined as those that are medically necessary, prescribed by a licensed practitioner and are not reimbursed under another program.

Examples of qualified expenses:

	physician office visits
	prescription co-pays
	medical deductibles
	eyeglasses & contact lenses
	orthodontia & dental work
	hearing aids & durable medical equipment
	smoking cessation & exercise classes prescribed by a physician

Enrollment in HCSA is restricted to October and November of each calendar year with an effective date of January. No changes can be made during the calendar year unless your status changes (e.g. addition/loss of dependent, loss of job, change from full-time to part-time). New employees may enroll within 60 days of employment or wait until the regular open enrollment period.

The monthly administrative fee, which is automatically deducted from your paycheck, is $3.75.

Effective January 1, 2007, SHPS is the administrator for HCSA. If you are interested in enrolling in the plan, please visit the Group Insurance Commission's  website at www.mass.gov/gic. Once you are enrolled, you may visit SHPS' website at  www.myshps.com to access your personal account information.