2026-2027 Flexible Spending Account Open Enrollment

April 1, 2026 -  May 1, 2026 is the MA Group Insurance Commission's (GIC) open enrollment.

This is GIC-eligible employee's once annual opportunity to enroll in the 2026-2027 Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and/or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) online with Ameriflex. Enrollment each year during open enrollment is required for continued participation in the next plan year.

To enroll please navigate to the Ameriflex webpage between April 1, 2026 and May 1, 2026. When selecting "Agency" please make sure to select "Univ. of Mass. -Amherst".

What is a Flexible Spending Account?

Health Care Spending Account (HCSA)

HCSA allows you to pay for $250 - $3,400 of eligible health care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Eligible expenses include:

• Physician office and prescription drug co-payments & deductibles
• Over the counter medications
• Prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses not covered by your health or vision insurance
• Orthodontia and dental expenses not covered by your dental insurance

Please reference Ameriflex's website for a more detailed list of eligible expenses and the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan Description.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)

DCAP allows you to pay for $250 - $7,500 of qualified dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis. Please note: DCAP is not an HCSA for dependents. Eligible expenses may only be incurred for dependents under 13 years of age and physically/mentally handicapped adults living in your household and include

         Day care & adult day care                          Day camp
         After school programs                                 Nursery school

Please reference Ameriflex's Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan Description for detailed information.

Enrollment Information

Current participants must re-enroll each year to continue participating. All HCSA and DCAP enrollments must be processed on-line with Ameriflex between April 1, 2026 and May 1, 2026 – retain a copy of your confirmation page for your reference.

PLEASE NOTE: funds not spent by September 15 following the end of the plan year (or by the end of employment, whichever comes first) are forfeited. An individual's last day of benefited employment is the last day on which eligible expenses may be incurred in the HCSA. Please calculate your 2026-2027 enrollment amounts carefully as you may not change your election amount mid-year without a qualifying event.

Debit Cards: Ameriflex debit cards will be mailed to participants’ homes for receipt by July 1, 2026.

• HCSA: unspent plan year 2025–2026 funds, and 2026–2027 election amounts, are both available on July 1, 2026. 
• DCAP: unspent plan year 2026-2026 funds are available on Ameriflex debit cards on July 1, 2026. Plan year 2026-2027 DCAP election amounts become available as payroll deductions occur.

Monthly fee for HCSA & DCAP: The pre-tax participation fee for one or both plans is $1.00, payroll deducted once per month.

Extended period to incur expenses and submit expenses for reimbursement:

Questions about HCSA or DCAP?

• Ameriflex on-line at https://myameriflex.com/massgic/
• GIC FSA website
• Human Resources via AskHR