Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account

If you are enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) along with the Health Savings Account (HSA), you may participate in a Limited Purpose Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for dental and vision care with pretax dollars.

It’s important to note that you cannot participate in both a Health Savings Account and a general purpose Health Care Flexible Spending Account. You may use your Health Savings Account funds to pay for regular medical expenses. Consider participating in both the HSA and Limited Purpose FSA to maximize your savings and tax benefits.

Go to WEX to access your spending account

New Users: To register, enter your [JHED ID]@johnshopkins.edu in the field for Employee ID. Your username and email for registration is [JHED ID]@johnshopkins.edu.

The annual maximum contribution you can make to the Limited Purpose FSA is $3,300 in 2025.

Some expenses eligible for reimbursement through a Limited Purpose FSA include:

• Dental: cleanings, coinsurance, copays, crowns, deductibles, dental treatment, dentures, denture adhesives and cleaners, fillings and orthodontics.
• Vision: contact lenses, contact solutions and cleaning products, eye drops, eye exams, prescription glasses and sunglasses, refractions, vision correction procedures (e.g., Lasik) and vision screenings.

Substantiation

Substantiating your debit card purchases is important for the limited purpose FSA as it must follow IRS rules. JHU adheres to the guidelines and collects backup documentation when necessary. If you have 2024 debit card claims that are not substantiated by Dec. 15, 2024, and you have not responded to WEX, your debit card will NOT be activated for 2025. 

You will receive an email from WEX if you need to submit supporting documentation. You also can log into your WEX account or download the WEX mobile app to see if you have any outstanding claims that require documentation before they can be cleared. 

Acceptable backup documentation includes an itemized invoice from the provider or your explanation of benefits, or EOB, from the insurance carrier. Any supporting documentation provided must include: 

• Name of patient 

• Name of provider or merchant 

• Date service received or item purchased 

• Description of service received or item purchased 

• Dollar amount (after insurance, if applicable) 

If you don’t submit documentation after you have been requested to do so, your debit card will be turned off, generally about 90 days after the initial charge. 

Deadline to file claims

Claims for expenses incurred during the current calendar year must be submitted to WEX Benefits no later than April 30 of the following year. Termed employees must submit claims incurred from the beginning of the plan year to their last date of employment no later than 120 days following their term date.

Rollover funds

If you currently participate in the Limited Purpose FSA, up to $640 (minimum $30) of your remaining 2024 account balance will automatically roll over to your 2025 Limited Purpose FSA with WEX. The rollover amount does not require an election or any payroll deduction and will be deposited into your FSA before May 30 (after the April 30 deadline for 2024 claims). Claims will first be paid from the current plan year’s balance and then deducted from any carryover amounts. Any remaining funds over $640 in your Limited Purpose FSA will be forfeited.

Keep in mind

If you have FSA expenses that have not been validated with receipts in 2024, your card will not be activated for 2025. If you still have unsubstantiated purchases at the end of the plan year run-out period (April 30, 2024), the dollar amount will be added to your wages for 2024 and taxed as ordinary income.