Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Budget & Pay for Anticipated ExpensesPay for Expenses with an FSA
FSA Options & Eligibility
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are a convenient way to budget and pay anticipated expenses pre-tax. Bloomin’ Brands offers you two types of FSAs, administered by Wex:
- Health Care FSA: For eligible health care expenses for you and your dependents.
- Dependent Care FSA: For eligible dependent day care expenses.
If you enroll in a Bloomin’ Benefits HSA medical plan, the Health Care FSA is not available to you. Instead, you can contribute to your Health Savings Account (HSA).
Account Highlights
Health Care FSA Overview
The Health Care FSA is a way to pay for health care expenses for you and your tax dependents, including dependents who are not enrolled in your Bloomin’ Brands medical plan.
Use the Health Care FSA to pay for:
- Medical, dental, and vision deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
- Qualified health expenses not covered by your health plan, such as Lasik eye surgery.
For more details, refer to Wex’s Health Care FSA Information Sheet.
| Annual contribution | $130 min; $3,050 max in 2024 |
| For services incurred | Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 |
| Claims must be received by | March 31 of the following year |
| Unused funds | Forfeited |
Dependent Care FSA Overview
The Dependent Care FSA enables you to pay with pre-tax dollars for daycare expenses for your children and mentally or physically disabled dependents of any age.
Use the Dependent Care FSA to pay for:
- Babysitters or companions, including relatives over age 19 whom you do not claim as tax exemptions who care for your dependents so you can work.
- Education expenses, such as nursery school for children not yet in kindergarten.
- Daycare expenses for children under 13.
For more details, refer to Wex’s Dependent Care FSA Information Sheet.
| Annual contribution | $130 min; $5,000 max per household (or $2,500 if you’re married and file separate federal tax returns) |
| For services incurred | Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 |
| Claims must be received by | March 31 of the following year |
| Unused funds | Forfeited |
For a complete list of FSA-eligible health care and dependent care expenses, review Wex’s eligible expenses chart linked below.
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Using Your FSA Benefits Debit Card
Use your Wex Benefits debit card to pay for eligible services and products. Payments are automatically withdrawn from your account, so there are fewer out-of-pocket costs, and no waiting for reimbursement.
Out-of-Pocket Expense Reimbursements
Submit a request for reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses where your Wex Benefits debit card was not used. For more details, refer to the Claim Form.
All claims incurred during the time you are eligible in that calendar year must be submitted for reimbursement no later than March 31. For example, if you were eligible for the entire year, from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, you would have until March 31 of the following year to make sure you have submitted to Wex all prior year claims for reimbursement.
Required Documentation
To show that expenses incurred are eligible, the IRS requires certain purchases made with an FSA to be substantiated.
Be sure to provide substantiation to Wex for any claims you submit to them or use your FSA debit card throughout the year to prove your claim was an eligible expense as defined by the IRS. If you do not provide substantiation, Bloomin’ Brands will be required to deduct the unsubstantiated claim amount from a future paycheck on a post-tax basis.
- Not every claim will require substantiation.
- Review Wex’s Employee FSA Guide for details on what purchases require documentation, and how to submit.
- In addition to more traditional claim submission options (mail and fax), you can enter your claim online and via the Wex Discovery Benefits mobile app available for Apple and Android devices.
If you still have questions, read through Wex’s Substantiation FAQs.
Use-It-or-Lose-It Rule
Don’t forget to spend your FSA dollars. You will forfeit any money left in your account if you have not used all of your FSA dollars before a) the end of the plan year on Dec. 31, b) the date you are no longer eligible for benefits, and/or c) your last day of employment; whichever comes first.
Wex Benefits
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) & COBRA Continuation Coverage
Contact Information
Available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. CT.
Phone: 1-866-451-3399
Fax: 1-866-451-3245