Flexible Spending Programs

Flexible Benefit Programs offer you a substantial tax savings opportunity. They allow you to pay for eligible expenses using tax-free dollars — money taken out of your paycheck before income or Social Security taxes have been deducted.

The CSU offers the following Flexible Benefits to its eligible employees:


Tax Advantage Premium Plans

The Tax Advantage Premium Plan (TAPP) allows employees to have required health plan premiums withheld from their paychecks on a pre-tax basis, reducing federal and state income and Social Security/Medicare taxes.

Eligibility:

All CSU employees enrolled in a CalPERS health plan, and who have health care contributions withheld from their paycheck, are eligible to participate.

Enrollment:

Eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the program unless non-participation is requested at the time of enrollment.


FlexCash Program

Employees who are eligible for medical/dental insurance and have other non-CSU group coverage can elect to waive CSU coverage in exchange for a monthly cash payment:

  • Medical and dental: $140.00;
  • Medical only: $128.00;
  • Dental only: $12.00

Employee FlexCash Basics:

  • Must certify that they have alternative non-CSU group medical and/or dental coverage
  • Provide proof of other non-CSU group coverage
  • Not eligible to participate if covered as the dependent of another CSU employee
  • FlexCash payment is treated as taxable income and is subject to payroll taxes
  • Eligible employees have 60 calendar days commencing with their appointment date to enroll in the FlexCash plan

Note: Under the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable minimum value standards. Care Act (ACA), the IRS has recently prohibited employers from offering cash to employees who choose to waive employer-sponsored medical coverage and enroll in "individual" medical coverage. Employees who are enrolled in individual medical coverage, such as Tricare, Medicare, Medi-Cal and Covered California, are not eligible to receive cash in lieu of other medical coverage even if the coverage provides minimum value. These requirements do not apply to dental coverage.

For detailed information, refer to the CSU FlexCash brochure from the Benefits Office.

FlexCash and TAPP Brochure​ [pdf] (requires SJSUOne/CSU login)


Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)

This voluntary benefit plan offers eligible employees the ability to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

Enrollment Information:

  • Employee may contribute $20.00 to $229.16 each month ($2,750 maximum per year).
  • Contributions are deducted from pay before federal, state and Social Security (FICA) taxes.
  • Must re-enroll during the annual open enrollment period each fall to participate during following calendar year. (Can change contribution amount at that time.) The Plan Year is from January 1 - December 31.

Reimbursement Information:

  • Enrolled employees can file a claim for reimbursement online (asiflex.com) (requires SJSUOne/CSU login) with the ASI-assigned user ID and password, or by completing a Claim Form​ [pdf] (requires SJSUOne/CSU login), and attaching an itemized bill for health care expenses.
  • In addition to the claims reimbursement processes outlined above, enrolled employees also have the option of requesting an FSA Debit Visa Card, also called the "ASIFlex​" The Card eliminates most out-of-pocket expenses and claims paperwork (exceptions apply).
  • Expenses eligible to be reimbursed must be:
  • medically necessary,
  • incurred by an employee, employee's spouse, or eligible dependents (including domestic partner), and not covered by the employee's own or another insurance plan.

Additional Information:

  • Refer to the CSU HCRA Brochure [pdf] (requires SJSUOne/CSU login) for a list of reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses.
  • The CSU provides a 2 1/2 month grace period for employees enrolled in HCRA through December 31st. If an employee is enrolled through December 31st and also has a balance as of December 31st, the grace period allows them to be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred through March 15th of the following year. FSA Debit Cardholders will have access to the prior year's balance through the grace period (March 15 of each calendar year).
  • Employees must submit claims no later than June 30th of the following year after the current plan year ends. After this date, any funds remaining in the employee's account will be forfeited.

Downloadable Resources​:


Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)

This voluntary benefit plan offers eligible employees the ability to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses for dependent care with pre-tax dollars if the care is required in order for the employee (and spouse, if married) to work.

Enrollment Information:

  • Employee may contribute $20.00 to $416.66 each month ($5,000 maximum per year) to personal account.
  • Deducted from pay before federal, state and Social Security (FICA) taxes.
  • Must re-enroll during the annual open enrollment period each fall to participate during following calendar year. (Can change contribution amount at that time.) Plan Year is from January 1 - December 31.

Reimbursement Information:

  • Enrolled employees can file a claim for reimbursement online (asiflex.com) (requires SJSUOne/CSU login) with the ASI-assigned user ID and password, or by completing a Claim Form [pdf] (requires SJSUOne/CSU login), and attaching an itemized bill for dependent care expenses. Claim forms can either be mailed or faxed to ASIFlex.
  • For expenses to be eligible:
  • Dependent must be child under 13 for whom employee or spouse is entitled to claim dependent status on income tax return, or spouse who is unable to care for him/herself, or a financially dependent member of employee's household; and
  • Care must be required in order for employee to be gainfully employed and, if married, spouse also must be employed or actively looking for work.
  • See DCRA Brochure​ [pdf] (requires SJSUOne/CSU login) for additional eligibility rules. 

Additional Information:

  • The CSU provides a 2 month grace period for employees enrolled in DCRA through December 31st. If an employee is enrolled through December 31st and also has a balance as of December 31st, the grace period allows them to be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred through March 15th of the following year.
  • Employees must submit claims no later than June 30th of the following year after the current plan year ends. After this date, any funds remaining in the employee's account will be forfeited.

Downloadable Resources:

Would you like more information about your benefits?