Spending Accounts Facts and FAQ

The County of Los Angeles provides its employees opportunitiesto save money and pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars through the Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and a Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA). Pre-tax contributions are made via payroll deductions, and placed into a spending account. Employees may then reimburse themselves for eligible expenses.

HCSA

  • Employees may contribute up to $200/month ($2,400 annual max).
  • Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: medical and dental copays, vision care costs, orthodontia not covered by dental insurance, prescribed medications and drugs, and many others. (A complete list of eligible and ineligible expenses is available at see Publication 502.)
  • Contributions are “use-it or lose-it,” with a $500 annual carry-over.

DCSA

  • Employees may use non-taxable County Contributions and their own pre-tax contributions to pay for eligible dependent care expenses so employees (and spouses) may work or attend school full-time.
  • Employees may contribute up to $400/month ($4,800 annually). This amount includes the County Contribution. (Annual limitations may vary depending on how employees file for taxes.)
  • The County provides a DCSA subsidy amount based on employee income. Employees may choose to enroll and receive “County Contribution Only.”
  • Eligible dependents include: children under the age of 13, family member who employee can claim as a dependent for federal tax purposes and lives with employee at least 8 hours a day.
  • Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: daycare providers, nursery schools and preschools (if cost of school isn’t separated from cost of care), licensed day care centers, etc. (A complete list of eligible and ineligible expenses is available at see Publication 503.)
  • Contributions are “use-it or lose-it.” (No carry-over provision)

The annual deadline for participants to submit claims for the HCSA and the DCSA is June 30th of the following calendar year.

Spending Account Administration

The County of Los Angeles is contracted with Conduent as itsthird-party administrator (TPA) for benefits administration.

The administrator for the spending accountsis Benefits Concepts Incorporated (BCI)/WageWorks Inc., whichissubcontracted with Conduent.

In January 2013, WageWorks Inc. purchased BCI, and Benefit Concepts has been doing business as the County’s spending account administrator, under the name “BCI - a WageWorks company” since then.

In July 2018, WageWorks will move the County’s spending accounts from the BCI platform to the WageWorks platform. The transition is not a change in vendors, but a change in operating platforms.

Timeline of Transition to WageWorks Platform and Blackout Dates

  • June 19, 2018 – WageWorks will mail out a Welcome Letter and Quick Start Guide (2 page front and back, which was presented at June EBAC).
  • June 30, 2018 – Deadline to submit HCSA and DCSA claims for 2017 with BCI.
  • For questions about 2017 claims, employees can call BCI

at (866) 629-6436.

  • July 1-15, 2018 – blackout period for the transition to the WageWorks platform. Participants will not beable to submit claims online, receive reimbursements or view account balances.
  • This period was chosen because it falls after the final date that employees may submit claims for the 2017 plan year (June 30, 2017), and is least harmful for participant experience.
  • July 16, 2018 – Spending account services resume under the WageWorks platform. Employees may access accounts by signing into and clicking on the “Spending Accounts” link.
  • The week of July 16, 2018, employees enrolled in a Health Care Spending Account will receive an HCSA visa card in the mail.

Claims Submissions and Added Features under WageWorks Platform

Employees will be able to submit claims online or via mail/fax just like before under the BCI platform.

  • Participants can log onto click on “Spending Accounts” and from the Spending Accounts homepage, select “Submit Claims” and follow instructions.
  • Participants may also submit claim forms via mail/fax by filling out a paper claim form (which is provided in the annual spending account packet mailed to participants each January).

Under the WageWorks platform, employees will now have 2 new options to submit claims:

  • EZ Receipts mobile application for smartphones and other mobile devices
  • Participants may take photos of receipts for claims submissions
  • HCSA Visa card – participants may the card instead of cash or credit at health care providers and pharmacies for eligible services, goods and prescriptions.

Notes:1.) Participants may pay for eligible expenses on the HCSA Visa card up to the total annual contributions made for the Health Care Spending Account.

2.) Use of the Visa card is completely optional. There is no requirement to utilize this for claims.

3.) There is no visa card for the DCSA

Spending Account Access

Access to the Spending Accounts is only available to employees upon participation of the HCSA/DCSA. Employees may view their account(s) by logging into the County’s benefits enrollment website and clicking on the “Spending Accounts” link. The single sign-on functionality has been in place (and will continue to be in place) to make spending account access for participants an easy experience.

FAQ’s

  1. What’s the difference between BCI and WageWorks?
  1. They are the same company. BCI was purchased by WageWorks in 2013. What is changing is the operating platform - improvements to website, ability to submit claims via mobile app and with HCSA visa card for HealthCare Spending Account participants.
  1. What is happening on July 1 through July 15?
  1. Your spending account administrator is changing platforms. All participant information (including direct deposit information) will be securely transferred to the WageWorks platform. There should be no security concerns with personal information, health information, claims information, or banking information being sent to a new vendor, because it is the same vendor.

During this transition period, participants will not be able to submit claims, receive reimbursements or view account balances. On July 16, 2018, all spending account services will resume.

  1. Why did I receive a Visa card in the mail?
  1. You are currently enrolled in a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA). Under the WageWorks platform, the HCSA Visa card is another way to pay for eligible health care claims. This card will not work for Dependent Care Spending Account claims.

The use of this card is completely optional. You can submit claims online or via mail or by fax as before.

  1. How do I use the HCSA Visa card?
  1. You may use the HCSA Visa card instead of cash or credit at health care providers and pharmacies for eligible services, goods and prescriptions.

When using your card at the checkout, choose “credit.” Save your receipts or take a picture of them, as you may need them later for tax purposes.

NOTE: If you use the HCSA Visa card (or submit claims online, via mail/fax or via mobile app) for a visit to the dentist or eye doctor, you may need to provide something called an “Explanation of Benefits.”

  1. Who do I contact if I have questions?
  1. For questions regarding 2017 Health Care or Dependent Care claims or claims that have already been processed, call (866) 629-6436, Monday through Friday 5AM - 6:30PM.

For questions regarding future claims under the WageWorks platform or about the HCSA Visa card, call (877) 924-3967, Monday through Friday, 5AM-5PM.

All representatives will be familiar with claims before and after the platform transition, and will be able to assist participants with questions.

  1. What will participants see once they log onto and try to access their spending accounts?
  1. When participants click on the “Spending Accounts” link on the portal page, it will be disabled during the “black out” period. Participants will see information about who to contact for questionson the benefits portal home page.

On July 16, 2018 and through December 31, 2018, if employees want to view their 2017 claims, a link for the BCI platform will be available on

  1. How does the EZ Receipts mobile application work?
  1. The EZ Receipts mobile application will synchronize all spending accounts information with the WageWorks Spending Accounts platform. Participants may submit claims using the application and upload receipts and substantiation by taking photos on mobile devices.

Email blurb

Dear CCU Spending Account Participant,

You recently received a letter from WageWorks regarding your Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Dependent Care Spending Account (DCSA).

You may be familiar with Benefit Concepts Inc. (BCI) as your HCSA or DCSA administrator. In 2013, BCI was purchased by WageWorks, but maintained their name.

In July 2018, WageWorks will move the County’s Spending Accounts from the BCI platform to the WageWorks platform. This transition will take place from July 1 through July 15, 2018, during which time, you will not be able to file claims online, receive reimbursements, or review your accounts. Because the platform transition is not a change in vendors, your personal info, claims info, and direct deposit info will remain secure.

In addition to an improved website, the new platform offers a mobile application, EZ Receipts. Access to your spending accounts will remain the same, through the single sign-on login on

Additionally, if you are currently enrolled in the Health Care Spending Account in 2018, you will receive a HCSA Visa card the week of July 16, 2018. This HCSA Visa card can be used to conveniently pay for eligible expenses at checkout (such as prescription drugs, medical and dental copays, etc.). NOTE: Use of this card is optional, and it may not be used for Dependent Care expenses.

For questions regarding previously processed claims call (866) 629-6436, Monday through Friday 5AM - 6:30PM. For new claims, call (877) 924-3967, Monday through Friday, 5AM-5PM.