The Flex Convenience^® system automates the process of paying for eligible pre-tax flexible spending account expenses. The Flex Convenience^® card is a debit card that allows participants to directly pay for eligible FSA expenses at the point of service. By using the card participants avoid the hassles of paying cash for services, filling out and submitting claim forms, and waiting for reimbursement. The Flex Convenience^® card enables participants to only pay for eligible expenses wherever MasterCard^® or Visa^® is accepted - from physician and dental offices to pharmacies and vision service locations.

The Flex Convenience^® debit card offers many advantages to participants

• Payments are deducted directly from a participant's FSA account - no more paying upfront cash for services
  
• Participants no longer need to wait for reimbursement checks
  
• For most participants the requirement to fill out claim forms and submit receipts for reimbursement is virtually eliminated
  
• Online access to real-time account information allows participants to check account balance 24/7
  
• Offsets rising healthcare and dependent care cost and increase the participant's take home pay

Following are some of the most common questions asked about the Flex Convenience^® card:

1. Q: How can I use the Flex Convenience® card?
   
2. Q: How does the card work?
   
3. Q: Is there a “list” of eligible merchants/providers that accept the card?
   
4. Q: How do I sign up for the Flex Convenience® card?
   
5. Q: Once I use the card, do I have to use it all of the time?
   
6. Q: How many cards will I receive?
   
7. Q: What do I do if I lose the card or the card is stolen?
   
8. Q: What if my card is rejected at the point of sale/service for any reason or my doctor, dentist or other provider/merchant doesn’t accept MasterCard®, what should I do?
   
9. Q: If Interactive Medical Systems believes I used the card for an ineligible expense, what steps are taken? What if I don’t respond or I don’t have supporting documentation?
   
10. Q: Can I use my Flex Convenience Card to pay for the entire bill at my doctor’s or dentist’s office?
    
11. Q: If I use my Flex Convenience Card, will I still need to keep my receipts?
    
12. Q: How can I review my Flex Convenience Card transactions?
    

Q: How can I use the Flex Convenience^® card?

The Flex Convenience^® card can be used to pay for eligible goods and services covered by your FSA like prescription drug co-pays, office visit co-pays, or deductibles under your health, dental, and vision plans. This card can also be used for allowable dependent care expenses. You may use your card at approved providers or merchants that accept MasterCard^®.   (return to question list)


Q: How does the card work?

Once a cardholder swipes the card at an eligible merchant location, the transaction is screened to determine whether there are sufficient funds credited to your FSA account. Only if there is enough money credited to the account is the transaction approved. At this point, the merchant will be paid and the amount is debited from the employee's FSA account to reflect payment of an approved expense. There is no direct payment or reimbursement to the participant.   (return to question list)


Q: Is there a “list” of eligible merchants/providers that accept the card?

No, but most health care or dependent care related providers/merchants that accept MasterCard^® will accept your card. As far as the merchant/provider is concerned, your Flex Convenience^® card is no different than any other MasterCard^®.   (return to question list)


Q: How do I sign up for the Flex Convenience^® card?

If you enroll in the Flexible Spending Account Plan and you select the Flex Convenience^® card option on your enrollment form, you will be mailed a card and a Cardholder Enrollment Agreement detailing policies and procedures for its use. By signing and activating the card when you use it for the first time, you are agreeing that all card transactions will be solely for qualified expenses of the Flexible Spending Account.   (return to question list)


Q: Once I use the card, do I have to use it all of the time?

No. You may choose to use the card for pharmacy co-payments and file all other claims with Interactive Medical Systems. It is entirely up to you how frequently you want to take advantage of this extra convenience.   (return to question list)


Q: How many cards will I receive?

You will be provided one card. If you want a card for a family member, then please indicate on the enrollment form and include the dependents name, date of birth and Social Security number.   (return to question list)


Q: What do I do if I lose the card or the card is stolen?

If you lose your card or it is stolen, contact Interactive Medical Systems immediately by calling 1-919-877-9933. IMS will deactivate your lost/stolen card and issue you a new card.   (return to question list)


Q: What if my card is rejected at the point of sale/service for any reason or my doctor, dentist or other provider/merchant doesn’t accept MasterCard^®, what should I do?

Pay for the charge, keep your itemized receipts and submit a claim reimbursement request to IMS.

Note: You may request reimbursement for eligible expenses up to your maximum annual Health Care Spending Account election at any time during the plan year. You may request reimbursement for eligible Dependent Care Spending Account expenses only up to your current contribution balance.   (return to question list)


Q: If Interactive Medical Systems believes I used the card for an ineligible expense, what steps are taken? What if I don’t respond or I don’t have supporting documentation?

IMS will make several attempts to contact you regarding the need to submit documentation for Flex Convenience^® card transactions that require review. If you do not respond to these requests or cannot provide adequate documentation of the expense, your card will be deactivated. The ineligible payment will be deducted from your future Flexible Spending Account claim reimbursement requests until your account is settled. You may also be asked to submit the ineligible reimbursement back to your employer via check or payroll deduction.   (return to question list)


Q: Can I use my Flex Convenience^® card to pay for the entire bill at my doctor’s or dentist’s office?

No, the purpose of a Flexible Spending Account is to put aside pre-tax funds to pay for un-reimbursed medical and/or dependent care expenses. Your health, dental, or vision provider must bill your insurance carrier for their portion of the fee first. Your Flex Convenience^® card, however, may be used for charges that are not reimbursed by your health plan, like co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles. After your health, dental, or vision plan has paid, you may use your Flex Convenience^® card to pay for the balance. Typically, physician, lab, or dental bills provide you the option to pay with a credit card. Select the MasterCard^® option and provide the card number and expiration date as you would with your personal credit card. You will then mail that information back to your provider who will process accordingly.   (return to question list)


Q: If I use my Flex Convenience^® card, will I still need to keep my receipts?

Yes, always keep your itemized receipts for card transactions. There may be times when a transaction will require additional review and you will be asked to submit documentation to IMS.   (return to question list)


Q: How can I review my Flex Convenience^® card transactions?

You can review your Flex Convenience^® card transactions and account balances on the Internet at http://www.mbicard.com.


This listing of Frequently Asked Questions is provided solely to help you gain a better understanding of how Flexible Spending Accounts work and how you may best utilize the benefits of the Plan. It is informational only and not plan specific. For details of your Plan, please refer to your Plan Document.