Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA)
What you need to know
With the HCFSA, you can set aside money from your paycheck to use for doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, and other eligible healthcare expenses.
Your contributions go into your account pretax. This allows you to pay for these expenses with tax-free dollars and reduces your taxable income.
You can participate in the HCFSA if you enroll in the Total Health PPO Plan or you waive Sandia medical coverage.
Enrollment and Contributions
You can contribute $100 to $3,300 in 2025 to your HCFSA.
You need to enroll each year, during annual Open Enrollment. You also have the opportunity to enroll as a new hire during your benefits enrollment window.
Sandia does not contribute to your HCFSA account.
Using Your HCFSA Balance
Sandia works with the following vendors to manage your HCFSA:
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) participants — Inspira Financial administers your account
- Kaiser Permanente participants — Kaiser administers your account
If you are not enrolled in a Sandia medical plan, you can contribute to the HCFSA! Your account is administered by Inspira Financial.
More about the HCFSA
Your total contribution election is available on January 1, and you can use your HCFSA balance as soon as you incur an eligible expense.
For your convenience, Inspira Financial will process all HRA and HCFSA claims if you elect ‘yes’ to the autopay feature during enrollment. Eligible medical, dental and/or vision expenses will automatically be processed by Inspira Financial first through your available HCFSA funds and then through your available HRA funds and reimbursed to you.
Your account comes with a debit card, which makes it easy to pay for eligible expenses. If you elected ‘yes’ for autopay, the debit card can only be used to pay for eligible pharmacy expenses. If you elected ‘no’ for autopay, the debit card can be used for all eligible health care expenses at the point of service.
Be sure to keep your receipts as you may be required to substantiate your claims.
With the HCFSA, “Carryover Provision” applies
For 2025, you’ll be able to carry over up to $660 in unused HCFSA funds and use that money all year. You’ll forfeit any unused balance above $660. Keep in mind that if you switch from the Total Health PPO Plan to the Health Savings Plan, you will forfeit all unused balances and cannot carry over any balances. Participants have 90 days after the plan year ends or they terminate employment to submit eligible claims for reimbursement.
You can choose to contribute the IRS maximum ($3,300 for 2025), even if you’re carrying over money from the current year. And your full HCFSA election for the upcoming year will be available on Jan. 1.
Contacts and Resources
Go to the Get to Know Our Benefit Providers page for details.
Financial wellness resources support you and your family – at every stage and age.
Quick Tip
An account for dependent day care expenses, too
With Sandia’s dependent care flexible spending account , you can set aside $100 to $5,000 each year, tax-free, to help pay for things like before-school programs, nanny care, and elder care expenses.