The Open Enrollment Period for 2018 DCAP and MEDFLEX ends on October 31, 2017.
The 2018 Open Enrollment for the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) and the Medical Flexible Spending Account (MEDFLEX) began October 1st and ends October 31st. These programs allow employees to pay for eligible expenses on a tax-free basis.
DCAP (Dependent Care Assistance Program)
This program provides a tax-free way to pay for dependent care expenses. For the 2018 plan year, you may contribute up to $5,000 of your salary, or up to $2,500 if you are married and filing separately. For additional information, please access DCAP.
MEDFLEX (Medical Flexible Spending Account)
This program provides a tax-free way to pay for out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses (such as deductibles, eyeglasses, contact lenses, Lasik, dentures, and orthodontia). Employees may contribute between $520 and $2,600 for the 2018 plan year. The maximum election is not affected by any funds carried over from the previous plan year. For additional information, please access MEDFLEX
Employees may enroll online or by submitting a paper open enrollment form
Employees can enroll by:
- going to the PBS website, www.ctpbs.com and clicking on ENROLL NOW and follow the prompts. The online process will be available from October 1st to 11:59pm on October 31st.
- calling PBS toll free at 1-866-906-8023
- going to Office of the State Comptroller's website at http://www.osc.ct.gov/agencies/forms/index.html and selecting Form CO-1310 DCAP, and selecting Form CO-1306 for MEDFLEX
If you are not able to enroll online, you will need to complete a paper enrollment form.
Note: Employees planning to retire during Plan Year 2018 will be permitted to enroll online but will also need to submit a paper enrollment form for the 2018 Plan Year.
Completed paper enrollment forms must be returned to PBS by 10/31/17. The completed forms can be emailed, faxed or mailed. Enrollment forms sent by mail must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2017. Please note that late enrollments will not be accepted for any reason. Current participants in DCAP and MEDFLEX will receive notice of the Open Enrollment and forms from PBS.
Once DCAP and MEDFLEX elections are made for Plan Year 2018 they cannot be changed unless employees experience a qualifying status change, such as marriage, divorce, death of a spouse or dependent, birth or adoption on a child, or a spousal employment status change.
Qualifying status elections must be submitted to PBS within 31 days of the qualifying event. Forms for election changes will be posted on PBS website after open enrollment ends on 10/31/17.
Both DCAP and MEDFLEX are subject to the IRS "Use it or Lose it" rule which means the amounts set aside in the tax-free accounts will be forfeited unless they are used for eligible expenses during the Plan Year. MEDFLEX participants can carry over up to $500 in unused funds to cover eligible expenses during the upcoming Plan Year. MEDFLEX funds over $500 will be forfeited after the run-out period ends on 3/31/18.
The Qualified Transportation Account (QTA) program lets you pay for eligible transportation and parking expenses with pre-tax dollars. The minimum contribution is $20 per month. The maximum monthly amount for Transit is $255, and $255 for Parking. Participants can enroll in this program at any time.
For questions concerning the DCAP and MEDFLEX open enrollment period or the QTA please call PBS at 1-866-906-8023.
For more information, contact: Human Resources at hr@uconn.edu