Human Resources

Division of Finance and Administration

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Flexible Spending Accounts

If you are a salaried full- or part-time Faculty member, University and Academic Professional, Postdoctoral Scholar employee, or Classified employee at VCU, you have the option to start a flexible spending account (FSA). An FSA is an IRS-approved, tax-favored account that allows you to stretch your eligible medical and/or dependent care dollars. Each pay period, a portion of your pre-tax salary is deposited into your FSA. You are then reimbursed from this account for your eligible expenses. This benefit allows you to save on income and social security taxes. 

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) do not continue automatically from year to year. You must enroll for each FSA plan year. The FSA plan year starts July 1 of the current year through June 30 of the following year. Pre-tax deductions for each plan year are taken starting from July 16 of the current year through July 1 of the following year.

Educational Opportunities

The Commonwealth of Virginia provides a Flexible Spending Account Sourcebook 2025-2026 with additional information about FSA eligibility and uses. 

Your FSA Account

  • Online: Log in via Inspira Financial (previously PayFlex). When registering for online access to your account, your Employee ID is your Cardinal ID number without the final two zeroes (consult the Cardinal Instructions for assistance). 
  • Physical Card: When activating your physical card, you will be prompted to enter a PIN issued by your employer. Your Employee PIN for Inspira Financial is the last four digits of your Cardinal ID number without the final two zeroes (consult the Cardinal Instructions for assistance).
FSA Payroll Calculator

FSA Payroll Deduction Calculator

Estimate your per-paycheck FSA deductions based on your enrollment type.

* You have 60 days to submit Qualifying Mid-Year Event (QME) enrollment changes. QME changes are effective the first of the month following receipt of your request or following the event, whichever is later. When the later date is the first of the month, changes are effective that day. Health Insurance and FSA elections are separate elections and may be submitted together or separately within the allotted timeframe.
* You have 30 days from your hire date to enroll in health benefits and flexible spending accounts. If the enrollment action is received within the 30 calendar day time frame, coverage will be effective the first of the month coinciding with or following the date of employment.

Contact Us

For questions about your benefits, please submit a help ticket through the HR Service & Support Tool. You can also contact benefits@vcu.edu or call (804) 827-1723.

Your HR Professional may also be able to answer some benefits related questions.