What if I want my spouse to talk with BRI about my HRA VEBA?
Your spouse may call BRI to discuss your HRA VEBA account provided we have your authorization. To do so, please complete the PHI Authorization Form available on BRI’s website at BenefitResource.com, under Forms > Health Reimbursement Account.
I still don’t understand the differences between BRI and BPAS. When do I access my account through BRI and when do I access my account through BPAS?
Benefit Resource (BRI) is the pretax administrator for the HRA VEBA (as well as other pre-tax accounts you may be enrolled in). BRI processes your reimbursement claims, manages the card, and provides participant support on expense eligibility and the BRIWEB. BPAS is the daily valued record-keeper and custodian of your VEBA account. BPAS manages the […]
If I am a retiree or former employee, how do I set up automatic premium reimbursements?
Complete the Recurring Premium Attestation Form found under the Documents tab in your individual account on the BRIWEB, and mail the completed form to Benefit Resource, to the address listed on the top right of the form. Note that you will need to complete a new attestation form for each calendar year and upon any […]
How do I manage my investments?
It’s easy to navigate between your BRI account and your HRA VEBA Portal. Access your account through BRIWEB, then navigate to the HRA VEBA tab in the left sidebar. Select “I Want To”, then click “Manage My VEBA” to be redirected to the VEBA Portal. Watch the overview video below for additional information: If you […]
How do I get reimbursed for my entire HRA VEBA balance?
To receive your entire balance, reimburse your full account by completing these steps: Complete a paper claim form with supporting documentation. (Universal Claim Form found at the Documents link) Write the full amount of your account balance on the form. (You can see your full balance on the BPAS website.) Write “Liquidate My VEBA” at […]
What if I submit a claim for more than what the balance is in my account?
The following scenario represents the process that will occur if this happens: SCENARIO: You submit a claim for $6,000. Your invested balance is $5,000 and your available balance is $4,500 (90% of $5k). You will initially be reimbursed for $4,500 (the available balance). In an overnight process, the BPAS system will recalculate the remaining $500 […]
Why don’t I see my full balance online in my BRI Account? How do I view my full balance?
When you view your HRA VEBA account online at BRIWEB, the available balance you see is only 90% of your total account balance. 10% of your balance is held back to allow for market fluctuation in your account when using the debit card. To view your full balance, log into BRIWEB. After logging in, navigate […]
What happens to my HRA VEBA dollars if I die?
Upon death, your spouse or eligible dependent(s) will receive the dollars to use for their own healthcare expenses. There is no beneficiary provision available for HRA VEBA accounts. If you do not have a spouse or eligible dependent, your funds will be allocated back into the trust for use by other members of the HRA […]
What happens to my HRA VEBA dollars if I retire or leave my current job?
When HRA VEBA dollars are contributed, they become your dollars. However, they are not portable and cannot be withdrawn from the account other than to pay for eligible expenses. You will be able to continue to use this money to pay for your healthcare expenses (including health insurance premiums) even after you retire or leave […]
What happens to my HRA VEBA dollars if I don’t spend them all in a year?
HRA VEBA dollars are eligible to carryover from month to month and year to year. There is not a “use or lose” issue with HRA VEBAs. If you don’t use your contribution, it stays in your account, and you will earn interest on those dollars until you withdraw it.
What if I have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and HRA VEBA?
If you have a balance in both a Flexible Spending Account and HRA VEBA, reimbursement will be made from your FSA first since this is a use or lose plan and the HRA VEBA second. For example, if you submit a claim for $500 and have $400 in your FSA and $5,000 in your HRA […]
How long does it take to get reimbursed from my HRA VEBA? How can I afford to pay my expenses without immediate access to my dollars?
You typically don’t have to pay the health care provider before you get reimbursed by the HRA VEBA. You can submit an EOB (explanation of benefits) from the health insurance company to Benefit Resource, the HRA VEBA administrator, and get reimbursed based on that document because it shows what you owe to the health care […]
What is an HRA VEBA?
A Voluntary Employee Benefit Account (VEBA) is a type of Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) that allows you to be reimbursed for healthcare expenses on a tax-free basis. Funds put into an HRA VEBA are funded by your employer or through collectively bargained arrangements. The account is kept in a trust and administered by a third-party […]
What OTC items are eligible with an FSA or HRA?
It can be confusing to figure out which items are eligible under a pre-tax account. This list* provides some guidance on the kinds of OTC items that are eligible, when you might need a prescription or certificate of medical necessity, what a dual purpose item is, and OTC items that are not eligible. Click here […]
How do I submit a requested receipt?
Option 1: Submit receipts online Log in to BRiWeb using your Login ID and Password. If you are logging in for the first time, you will need to complete the Register an Account process. From the home page, select Submit Claims / Receipts. If you have outstanding receipt requests, these will be displayed. Follow the prompts to […]
What is an itemized receipt? How do I get one?
An itemized receipt must contain the provider name, type of service, date of service, and cost of service. For health care expenses, a copy of your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) typically contains all the required information. You can generally access this information from your health plan login site if a copy is not automatically mailed […]
How will I know at the point-of-sale whether I will need to submit additional documentation?
You may not know if you’ll be asked to verify the eligibility of an expense when you use your Beniversal Card. Our opt-in BRiAlerts service allows you to receive email or text alerts just moments after completing the transaction. You can opt-in for BRiAlerts through BRiWeb or through the BRiMobile app. We will also automatically notify you […]
What can I do to avoid/limit requests for receipts when I use the Beniversal Card in the future?
There are certain times when your Beniversal Card transaction can be automatically approved: Use your card at IIAS merchants. These merchants have a checkout system that identifies which items are eligible under a Medical FSA and which are ineligible. Click here for a list of IIAS merchants. Additionally, you can use this resource to locate […]
Why was my transaction even approved if I still need to submit documentation?
In order to provide you with instant access to your account funds and prevent you from having to use other personal funds, the Beniversal Card is designed to work at all providers/merchants that primarily provide eligible products and services. We then review the transactions against all available data and only request receipts when we do […]
I used my Beniversal Card for eligible expenses, why am I getting a request to submit receipts?
Your tax-free benefit plan requires that all medical expenses be verified as being eligible under the plan and most health care providers/merchants provide both eligible and ineligible products/services. We first try to verify the transactions against a series of rules and data that is available for your plan. Unfortunately, we don’t always receive enough detail […]
Are all over-the-counter (OTC) items eligible for reimbursement from my HRA?
Effective March 27, 2020, OTC drugs and medicines purchased on 1/1/2020 or later are eligible for reimbursement for HRAs that currently allow OTC as eligible expenses. Most merchants have systems that identify these OTC items and you can use your Beniversal® Prepaid Mastercard® to purchase items directly. View sample list of eligible OTC items
Will my HRA claims be paid directly to the provider?
No, payment will be made to you. You are still responsible for paying the provider.
What supporting documentation do I need to submit with my completed claim when requesting reimbursement from my HRA?
Acceptable supporting documentation for medical claims must include the following information: Name of provider Date of service/date product was purchased Type of service/product (drug name required for prescription claims) Your out-of-pocket expense for the service/product (amount not covered or reimbursed elsewhere) Name of participant or dependent for whom the service/product was provided For services covered […]
What happens if I become ineligible to participate or retire during the plan year?
Refer to your Plan Highlights regarding the status of your HRA if you become ineligible or retire during the plan year.
