Welcome to Your Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)
This page explains the ICHRA for new participants. If you have not yet enrolled in your Employer’s ICHRA and are still deciding (if your plan allows you to opt out), click here for more information.
Start Here to Maximize Your ICHRA
An ICHRA is a great way to purchase the right insurance plan for you and family, while getting reimbursed tax-free from your Employer.
Please review this page or download the Welcome Guide above to familiarize yourself with your new benefit.
Table of Contents
Next Steps
Review Your Notice & Enroll in Coverage
Receive and Review your Notice
Your Employer sent you a notice with specific details about your ICHRA plan. This notice contains information about:
- Plan Year start and end dates
- Eligible expenses (whether unused reimbursements can be used for out-of-pocket medical expenses)
- Monthly contribution amounts
- Carryover of unused funds
- Who is covered by the ICHRA
Keep your ICHRA notice. You will need this notice to enroll in coverage through the Exchange.
Enroll in Coverage
If you are not already enrolled in eligible coverage, purchase coverage that starts on or before your plan’s start date.
Eligible Premiums
Ineligible Premiums
- Marketplace health insurance coverage
- Off-exchange coverage
- Medicare (parts A, B, or C)
- Spouse’s individual health plan
- Spouse’s Group Health Plan
Enroll in the ICHRA
Once your are enrolled in the coverage, you fill out and return the ICHRA Enrollment form to your Employer.
Set up Your Online Account
- Check your balance
- Submit claims
- Order a replacement debit card
- Submit substantiation receipts
- Add your bank account for direct deposit (if allowed by your Employer)
Note that the Online Portal and Mobile App use the same username and password. If you set up your username and password using one method, you will use the same credentials to log into the other.
How to Create Your Online Account
Set up Your Mobile Account
Using the Mobile App is not required, but is a great way to use your FSA on the go. Below are examples of what your can do with the EMPOWER Flex Mobile App:
- Check your balance
- Submit claims
- Submit substantiation receipts
- Scan barcodes with your mobile device to determine eligibility
Note that the Online Portal and Mobile App use the same username and password. If you set up your username and password using one method, you will use the same credentials to log into the other.
How to Create Your Mobile Account
- Using your mobile device, click one of the links above (depending on the chosen device).
- For Apple iOS users, click Get on the download screen.
- For Google users, click Install on the download screen.
- Open the EMPOWER Flex Mobile App after downloading.
- Click the New User? Set up your account to start setting up your account.
- To validate your identity, the on-screen prompts will ask you to provide:
- Full name
- Social Security Number
- Zip code
- Note that this is the zip code that you used when you enrolled in your benefit.
- Once you verify your identity, you will be asked to provide answers to your security questions.
- Save your answers to these questions because you may be asked to provide these answers again.
- Create your username and password.
Use Your Benefits!
To use your ICHRA, you will pay for eligible expenses using another form of payment and seek reimbursement through
EMPOWER. To get reimbursed, download the claim form and
follow the instructions on the form. Once a claim is approved, EMPOWER will mail a reimbursement check to you or
issue payment directly to your bank account if you are enrolled in direct deposit
Save Receipts!
What Information is Required for a Receipt?
An itemized receipt must include all the following:
· Merchant or provider name
· Services received or item purchased
· Date of service
· Amount of the expense
Cellphone pictures are acceptable as long as they are readable and contain the required information.
Reimbursement Methods
EMPOWER offers the following methods to access your funds:
- By default, you will receive a mailed reimbursement check unless you add your bank account and set your secondary payment method on the online portal (if permitted by your Employer).
- Receive a direct deposit to your bank account by following the instructions below (if permitted by your Employer).
EMPOWER requires you to validate your direct deposit account through the micro-deposit method. After adding your bank account information on the Portal, EMPOWER will make a small transaction (deposit and withdrawal) under $1.00 into your account. You will be required to validate the amount of this transaction on the portal before EMPOWER can enable direct deposit.
How To Enable Direct Deposit Online
- Log into the EMPOWER Online Portal.
- On the Portal homepage, hover your cursor over the Accounts tab.
- Click on Banking/Cards under the Accounts tab.
- On the Banking/Cards page, click Add Bank Account.
- Enter your banking information and click the Submit button.
- Within the next two business days, EMPOWER will make a deposit and withdrawal under $1.00 in your account. Look for this transaction in your bank account.
- After this transaction has occurred, you will see a new task in the task section on the homepage of your Online Portal.
- Click the task.
- Enter the dollar value of the micro-deposit.
How To Enable Direct Deposit with Form
- Download the Direct Deposit Form.
- Follow the instructions on the form.
