Belated FSA Enrollments Limited

Although actual enrollments in the flexible spending account program were accepted only for two weeks before the open season ended June 27, belated enrollments are allowed only in limited circumstances, the Office of Personnel Management has told agencies. Many employees have complained about the uncertainty regarding when agencies would actually start their programs and whether enrollees would have to pay fees, coupled with the relatively short period in which enrollments actually were accepted. However, employees may make a belated enrollment only “due to extenuating circumstances”-that is, reasons outside their control-will need to fill out an affidavit/enrollment form. For those who had been away on travel, for example, the enrollment would have to be filed within 30 days of return to their duty station. A belated enrollment is effective the day after the employee’s election and claims for services rendered prior to the enrollment effective date will not be paid, OPM said. Also, enrollments are not accepted after October 1 of any plan year, including the current plan year, in any event.