Note to SHPS Spending Account Card Users
April 11, 2008
You may have recently received an Account Activity Statement from SHPS for your Spending Account. SHPS has discovered errors on many of these statements, and is working to correct the inaccuracies.
On the statements, SHPS asked participants to provide documentation regarding some purchases that were actually co-pays for either pharmacy transactions or medical fees. Health Care FSA participants do not need to submit validation of co-payment transactions. SHPS is working to validate those claims.
You will receive a letter from SHPS and a corrected statement shortly. Please save all your receipts and wait for the corrected statement.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the SHPS Customer Service Center at 1-800-678-6684 or review your account information at www.myshps.com.
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Overview
Using your card
How to use your card
Paying for non-qualified expenses
Frequently Asked Questions
Download a printable version of this information (PDF)
Overview
Easy access to your Health Care FSA funds!
The SHPS Spending Account Card lets you and your dependents pay for purchases directly from your Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) – reducing the number of reimbursement requests you have to submit.
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The SHPS Spending Account Card:
- Works like a credit card, only the funds are deducted from your Health Care FSA
- Offers easy payment of eligible health care expenses;
- Eliminates the hassle of filing reimbursement forms; and
- Updates your account balance and transaction history.
Effective January 1, 2007, you will automatically receive the SHPS Spending Account Card when you enroll in a Health Care FSA.
You can also request additional cards at $5 each for your spouse or dependents. Details will be provided with your card.
Note: The SHPS Spending Account Card is not available for Dependent Care FSAs.
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Using Your Card
Where you can use your card
Use your Spending Account Card at locations where you typically receive health care goods and services. These include co-pays, office visits, over-the-counter medications and other out-of-pocket expenses not paid for by your health insurance, provided they accept Visa debit cards. Health care examples include:
- Physicians’ offices
- Hospitals
- Pharmacies
- Vision centers
- Dentists
Where you cannot use your card
The card should not be used at locations that do not supply qualified spending account services or products. Examples include but are not limited to:
- Restaurants
- Home improvement centers
- Book stores
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How to use your card
- Sign your card and call 866-285-2425 to activate it.
- Use the card to pay for eligible health care expenses.
- Select “credit” when/if prompted. Because there is no personal identification number (PIN) assigned to this card, you cannot select “debit”.
- Pay for non-eligible expenses separately.
- Save your receipt.
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Paying for non-qualified expenses
Only eligible items may be purchased with the SHPS Spending Account Card. You should pay for non-qualified expense items separately. For example, if you’re purchasing a prescription along with personal items such as toothpaste and bath soap, you’ll need to pay for the personal items with another form of payment.
Paying for eligible items if the card is not accepted
If you cannot use the card because the merchant does not accept VISA, or the merchant is not categorized as an allowable service provider, simply pay using another form of payment and submit a request for reimbursement.
Save all of your receipts and other documentation!
The IRS requires spending account administrators to validate that all card transactions are used for eligible expenses. In most instances, SHPS is able to automatically validate your purchase, but in certain circumstances SHPS will request that you fax or mail us a copy of your receipt. Failure to submit requested receipts could result in suspension of your card. So remember, please save your receipts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When can I start using my SHPS Spending Account Card?
A. You may begin using the card at the beginning of the plan year once funds have been made available and after you have activated and signed the card.
Q. Will I get a new card each year?
A. No, but you will receive a new card before your current card expires.
Q. How many cards are issued for each family?
A. Initially, one card is issued per family. If additional cards are needed, contact SHPS Customer Service at the phone number listed on the back of your card.
Q. Where can I obtain a complete list of eligible expenses?
A. You may only use your card for health care expenses. You may not use the card for dependent care expenses. Click here for the SHPS Eligible Expense Guide.
Q. Can I use the SHPS Spending Account Card for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines?
A. Due to recent clarifications to IRS regulations, the places where you can use your card to purchase OTC items might be restricted. SHPS will provide details of when and where you can purchase OTC items.
Q. What should I do if I receive services from a person or facility that doesn’t accept the card?
A. Pay for the expense by other means, and then file a request for reimbursement. Access a request form at www.myshps.com or by calling SHPS Customer Service at the phone number listed on the back of your card.
Q. My card did not work when I tried to use it. What could be the problem?
A. There are a few possibilities:
- You selected “debit” when you swiped the card. Even though the card says “debit card” you must select “credit” when using it to make purchases because you do not have a personal identification number (PIN);
- The merchant is not classified as a qualified spending account service provider (e.g., book store);
- Your purchase is not eligible or covered by your employer’s plan. Examples include magazines, cosmetics or vitamins;
- You do not have sufficient funds in your account to cover the purchase; or
- Your card has been suspended temporarily due to problems validating certain expenses you’ve paid with the card previously.
If you’re unable to use the card for your purchase, you may pay for the expense with another form of payment and then submit a reimbursement request.
Q. What should I do if I don’t want to use the SHPS Spending Account Card to pay for any eligible expenses?
A. If you are not going to use your card to pay for any expenses, please contact Customer Service at the number on the back of your card so it can be deactivated.
Q. What if the amount of my expense is greater than my account balance?
A. If there are insufficient funds to cover the entire expense, the transaction will be declined. Pay the entire amount with another payment method and then submit a request for reimbursement.
Q. Can I use the SHPS Spending Account Card to purchase items, such as prescription drugs and contact lenses, by mail order or online?
A. Yes. Simply enter your card number and expiration date as you would when purchasing online with a credit card.
Q. Where do I report a lost or stolen card?
A. To report a lost or stolen card, call SHPS Customer Service at 888-835-3060. SHPS will mail a replacement card to you.
Q. Where can I view my account balance?
A. Login to your mySHPS account to view your balance, transaction history and other information. To view your personalized information, enter your last name, your participant ID, and your password, and then click the Login button. Your participant ID is your social security number (do not use symbols, dashes or punctuation). Your password is case sensitive. If this is your first time logging in to www.myshps.com, your password is set to your eight-digit date of birth in MMDDYYYY format. For example, if your date of birth were January 1st, 1950, your initial password would be 01011950. You may change this password by entering your login information as indicated above, and clicking "I want to change my password" to the right of the Login button. Alternatively, contact SHPS by calling the phone number listed on the back of your card and using their 24-hour interactive voice response system.
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