Recent Changes Affecting the Flex Card

Beginning July 1, 2009, pharmacies and retail merchants were required to have an Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) in place in order to accept cards tied to a Flexible Spending Account. You have probably noticed this system in place already at many of your favorite stores - if you have swiped your Flex Card at a pharmacy or retail merchant and then did not have to submit documentation for your purchase later, an IIAS was responsible. Thousands of national, regional, and local merchants currently use an IIAS. For an updated IIAS list, click here .

However, there are still some pharmacies and retail merchants who do not yet have an IIAS in place, and your card will be declined at these locations. If you prefer to shop at a store that is not on the IIAS list, that's no problem - you may always pay out-of-pocket and submit a Reimbursement Claim Form with a receipt for your expenses.

This change means that every successful card swipe at a pharmacy or retail location should autosubstantiate, meaning you will not have to submit documentation to ProBenefits for your purchase. Keep in mind, however, that even though you don't have to submit it, the IRS does require that you keep that documentation on file in case of audit.

If you have any questions about the Flex Card, please contact us.