What types of programs qualify under the Commuter Benefits Program?

Your employer’s Commuter Benefits Program may allow for any or all of the following (please check with your employer as to which options are provided under your plan):

• Parking — Parking fees at/near your place of work or at/near a location from which you commute to work by carpool, commuter highway vehicle or mass transit. Out-of-pocket parking fees for parking meters, garages, and lots qualify. Parking at or near your home is not an eligible expense.
• Vanpooling — Vanpooling fees in a commuter highway vehicle with a seating capacity of at least six (6) adults, excluding the driver, meets the guidelines for a qualifying expense. (See below for the determination of your vanpool’s eligibility.)
• Mass Transit — Passes, tokens, fare cards, or similar items entitling you to ride a mass transit vehicle to or from work. The mass transit vehicle may be publicly or privately operated and includes bus, rail or ferry.

Documentation Requirements

Any documentation submitted to Surency for reimbursement of qualified medical expenses is required by the IRS to include a third-party receipt that shows the following:

• Date service was received or purchase was made
• Description of service or item purchased
• Dollar amount paid (after insurance, if applicable)

Any documentation submitted to Surency for reimbursement of dependent care expenses is required by the IRS to include a third-party receipt that shows that following:

• Dates of service (must have already occurred)
• Dollar amount paid
• Name of day care provider 

NOTE: If a receipt is unavailable, a signature from the provider is sufficient. 

The following forms of documentation are always UNACCEPTABLE for substantiation:

• Provider statements that only indicate the amount paid, balance forward or previous balance
• Credit Card receipts that only reflect a payment
• Bills for prepaid dependent care/medical expenses where services have not yet occurred

Medical Service Providers

Visa® Card has category codes to identify the type of business done by merchants accepting their Cards. One of these category codes is for Medical Service Providers which includes pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices and other health care facilities. If you use your Benefits Card at a medical service provider, you will be required to submit documentation for substantiation.

Exception: Surency will auto-approve transactions that match your plan’s co-payment amounts (up to multiples of five), reoccurring expenses from previously approved transactions. 

Over-the-Counter Medications

Most Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications (not including insulin) require a doctor’s prescription in order to be considered a qualified medical expense for purchase with FSA, HRA or HSA funds. Surency also requires a doctor's prescription to substantiate OTC purchases, even if paid for with a Benefits Card. For the participant's claim to be substantiated, they must submit the prescription (or a copy of the prescription or other documentation showing a prescription has been issued) for the OTC medicine or drug and any other information from an independent third party (such as a receipt). For example, a pharmacy-issued receipt that identifies the name of the purchaser (or the name of the person for whom the prescription applies), the date, the amount of the purchase and an Rx number satisfies the OTC substantiation requirements. A receipt without an Rx number that is accompanied by a copy of the related prescription also satisfies OTC substantiation requirements.

Can I use my account in a foreign country?

When you are in a foreign country, you will not be able to use your Benefits Card. However, you can still file a claim for reimbursement if it is for an eligible medical expense. Always remember to keep your documentation and receipts (in US dollars).

What documentation may be required when I utilize my Benefits Card?

You should keep all receipts. IRS regulations require Benefits Card transactions to be substantiated with a third-party receipt. Credit card receipts do not satisfy this requirement. The IRS requires the following information for validation that a transaction is eligible:

• Name of the service provider or place of purchase
• Provider Tax ID and Signature (for Dependent Care FSAs only)
• Date(s) the service was incurred
• Name of the individual for whom the service or expense was provided
• Detailed description of the service or expense provided (referred to as type of service)
• Drug name and Rx number, if applicable
• Amount or cost of the service or expense
• Over-the-counter medicines or drugs, if applicable 
• A receipt showing type of item purchased (aspirin, cough medicine, bandages, etc.)

NOTE: Failure to provide required documentation will result in a hold being placed on your Benefits Card causing it to be declined at the point of sale.

What if I fail to submit receipts to verify a charge?

If receipts are not submitted as requested to verify a charge made the Surency Benefits Card, then the Card may be suspended until receipts are received. You may be required to repay the amount charged. Submitting a receipt or repaying the amount in question will allow the Card to become active again.

How will I know to submit receipts to verify a charge?

You will be notified by Surency if there is a need to submit additional documentation. All receipts should be saved per the IRS regulations.

Can I use the Benefits Card to access last year’s money left in the account this year?

Check the Surency Mobile App or log in to your Member Account to view your grace period details. The IRS does allow for a grace period in the current year to use up funds carried over from the prior year, but not all Surency groups choose to offer the grace period.

During a grace period, the participant's Card will utilize funds from the previous plan balance before utilizing funds from the new plan year. If you have an HSA, funds will roll over to the next year.