Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
Mines offers Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) through Alerus and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) through WEX. Please find more information on the Brite Guide website.
A Health Care FSA saves you money by allowing you to pay for certain health care expenses – such as co-pays, deductibles, or medical equipment – with tax-free dollars. A Dependent Care FSA reimburses you for qualified dependent care expenses such as daycare that enable you and your spouse to work or attend school full time.
A Health Saving Account (HSA) is a tax-favored savings account to pay for health care expenses. You must be faculty or staff enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan in order to open and contribute to the account. HSA funds belong to you and roll over from year to year, so you can choose to use them for eligible expenses now — or save them for later.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) help you save money by allowing you to deduct tax-free dollars from your pay to cover certain health and dependent care expenses you incur during the year. The Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) reimburses you for qualified dependent (including care for your spouse or a relative who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care and lives in your home) expenses such as day care that enable you (and your spouse or domestic partner) to work or attend school full time. You can contribute to a DCFSA no matter your medical plan.
You must enroll each year during annual enrollment to renew your active participation in these accounts. You can only make changes at annual enrollment or when you experience a qualifying life event.
Flexible spending accounts let you use before-tax dollars to pay for eligible expenses. This means that you are paying for expenses with money that is taken from your pay before Social Security taxes and federal, state, and local (where applicable) income taxes are deducted. Contributing money before taxes are taken out reduces your gross salary. This lowers your taxable income and, therefore, lowers the amount of income tax you pay.
The money you contribute to your FSA is not subject to Social Security taxes. Because you will pay less Social Security tax, your future Social Security benefit may be smaller than it would be if you did not participate in the FSA. If your pay exceeds the Social Security wage base, your future Social Security benefits may not be affected by contributing pre-tax dollars.
If you have questions about the tax implications of participating in an FSA, consult a tax adviser.
Caryover, Runout, and Contribution Limits
If you currently participate in a Health Care FSA, up to $680 (minimum $30) of your remaining 2025 account balance will automatically carry over to your 2026 FSA with Alerus. 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). Claims will first be paid from the current plan year’s balance and then deducted from any carryover amounts. Any remaining funds over $680 in your FSA will be forfeited.
Dependent Care FSA does not have a carryover and must be used for day care expenses incurred DURING the plan year or the money is forfeited.
For both the Health Care FSA and Day Care FSA, you can submit 2025 expenses during the run-out period from January 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026.
2026 Contribution Limits
Healthcare FSA: $3400
Dependent Care FSA: $7,500 per household, or $3,750 for married individuals filing separately
To login to your account or contact Alerus:
Member Service: (877) 661-4727
Participant Website: www.alerusrb.com
Email: info@alerus.com
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are a triple tax-advantaged account that helps fund your out-of-pocket health care costs, available exclusively to eligible enrollees in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
You contribute to your HSA on a pretax basis but unlike the FSA, the funds rollover from year-to-year. You own the funds forever and decide when you want to use them. You can use your HSA funds to pay for eligible medical, prescription, dental, vision, and other health care expenses that you incur today – or later in life.
In 2026, you can contribute up to $4,400 for self-only and up to $8,750 for family on a pretax basis. If you are 55 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000.
Log into your account on the WEX website or use the WEX Mobile app to monitor your balance and help manage your savings goals.
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