How to Use your FSA Benefits Debit Card
The Benefits MasterCard® Debit Card can be used at qualified locations including doctors’ offices, pharmacies, online drug stores, dentist offices, optical shops, hospitals, and day care facilities.
When using the Debit Card at most nationally recognized pharmacies for prescriptions, such as CVS, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Kroger and many other local pharmacies, the transaction will auto-substantiate, meaning that documentation is not needed for the swipe. The Debit Card allows the conveniences of having eligible medical or dependent care expense subtracted immediately from the cafeteria account balance. The IRS requires Glynn Griffing & Associates, Administrators to obtain specific information in order for us to verify a purchase made with the debit card. Therefore, some substantiation may be required.
Where You Can Use Your Card
The card can be used at qualified locations including hospitals, physician and dental offices, vision providers, pharmacies and merchants with IIAS certification.
Click here to search for qualified IIAS certified merchants.
Click here to read the eligible expenses you can use your FSA Benefits Debit Card to pay for.
What To Do After You Make a Purchase
When you swipe your Benefits Debit Card for a medical expense, the money is taken directly from your account and the merchant is paid. Most of the time no further action is required; however, because the cards cannot determine the eligibility of all medically necessary expenses, the IRS requires further review of the expense. For this reason, you may receive an email or letter from our office asking for documentation.
You have Three (3) options to substantiate your debit card transactions:
- Upload your receipts through the online GGA myBenefits Portal OR the mobile app.
- If you received an email, click here to login to your account.
- Locate the transaction requiring documentation on the right side of your homepage.
- Click “Add Receipt” to upload your documentation.
- If you received a letter, you can fax or mail the required documentation along with the letter to GGA. Do not send a Reimbursement Request form with your documentation.
- Fax: 844-859-7308 (Do NOT add at “1” to the fax number)
- Mailing address:
Glynn Griffing & Associates
P.O. Box 16509
Jackson, MS 39236
If you are unable to locate requested documentation, you can send claims that have not been submitted before as a replacement for non-substantiated debit card purchases.
What a Valid Receipt Looks Like
The IRS requires us to collect specific information to verify the purchases made with your FSA Debit Card.
Acceptable documentation should include:
- Provider’s name
- Date(s) of service
- Detailed statement of services rendered or Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
- Amount charged for each procedure
- Person who received the service
For examples of what constitutes a bad or good receipt, please download this handout:
What is a Valid Receipt?
What Happens After You Submit Documentation
Emails may be sent to you asking you to login to your account to view time-sensitive information regarding debit card purchases. To view these communications in your GGA myBenefits portal, click “Alerts” in the upper right-hand corner of the page. Click “Message” to view communication. The communication can be printed and faxed to GGA with the proper documentation. Click the menu tab and select “My Info” to keep your email address up-to-date.
When we receive proper documentation, the card purchases under review will be “cleared” from your account. If you do not respond to the emails, your card will be suspended until proper documentation is received by our office.
Card swipes that are not valid will need to be paid back to the plan. We will work with you to get the transaction resolved quickly to avoid any interruption in benefits. Remember, the merchant has been paid by funds that were covered by your employer, so quick action will need to be taken after expenses are deemed ineligible.
Order an FSA Benefits Debit Card
If you have an existing Cafeteria Plan with Glynn Griffing & Associates and need a debit card for you or your dependents, please download the following form and mail or fax it to our office.
Glynn Griffing & Associates FSA Benefits Debit Card Request Form
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I access my account to check my balance?
Click here to login to your personal account. The Benefit Account Summary page will show your balance.
How do I activate my card?
Your new GGA Benefits Card will activate the first time you use the card.
What if my card is lost or stolen?
If your GGA benefits card is lost or stolen, please contact GGA immediately, and a replacement card will be mailed to you.
What is IIAS?
IIAS is an Inventory Information Approval System approved by the IRS. This system allows the retailer to automatically substantiate eligible FSA purchases through their inventory control system.
How does the debit card benefit me as a participant?
Using the GGA Benefits Card provides you with 3 major benefits:
- Eliminates paying up front for out-of-pocket health care expenses.
- Reduces the amount of time filling out claim forms (documentation may still be required for any expense that does not auto-substantiate).
- Eliminates waiting on a reimbursement check.
Why did my transaction decline?
There could be several reasons:
- You do not have enough funds in your FSA to cover the cost of the transaction.
- The card was used at a provider whose Merchant Category Code is a non-medical provider type.
- If trying to purchase a prescription, the pharmacy may not be IIAS certified to accept FSA debit cards.
- Your card has been deactivated because you have not submitted requested documentation in a timely manner.
Why do I need to substantiate a Benefits Debit Card transaction?
IRS regulations require substantiation on every reimbursement. There is an exception for known co-pays and IIAS transactions. All other transactions require substantiation.
What happens if I don’t substantiate a transaction?
If documentation is not received within 30 days, your card will be blocked, and no future transactions will be processed with your card until documentation is received by our office.
Do I have to use the debit card?
The debit card is optional. You can still file claims and receive reimbursement like you have in the past.
I just re-enrolled as a participant for the new year. Can I use the card for both plan years?
Yes, if your plan has the “grace period.” If you have money that rolls over, the card will automatically apply the expenses to your previous year’s balance until that is spent or the “grace period” runs out. Then all expenses are charged to your current year’s election.
Do you have any questions about your FSA debit card with Glynn Griffing? Contact our office, and we will assist you.