08/16/2016

With today’s technology advancing at a rapid pace, consumers have come to expect the availability of digital tools to help manage their various accounts. Healthcare is no different.  Employees participating in a health plan, from health insurance to flexible spending accounts, can benefit from the use of technology such as mobile apps to make the most of the benefits they receive.

When reviewing administrative services for your benefits, be sure to consider if your prospective third party administrator (TPA) has the technology available to serve your employees’ needs. Some features to be mindful of in a mobile app include:

Check Available Balance – is the participant able to check their available balance without having to call Customer Service?  As participants are on their way to their appointments, they can ensure they have funds available in their account to cover the expense, or they can budget for expenses later on in the plan year.

Claim Filing – does the app allow participants to file a claim for reimbursement directly from their phone or tablet?  Many participants want to be able to file a claim while they have their documentation in hand after  they have left the pharmacy or the doctor’s office.

Documentation Attachments – can the participant load documentation to their account from the app?  This allows participants to streamline the process of submitting documentation for their account.

These features and many more can be helpful to participants in making the most of the benefits they are enrolled in for healthcare. While paper and in-person communication is still valuable in certain cases, the availability of a comprehensive and user-friendly mobile app can help deliver the service many  of your participants have come to expect.

BusinessPlans, Inc. – myCafeteriaPlan does not intend to provide legal or tax advice and information contained in this article should not be interpreted as such. Regulations governing pretax plans are often open to interpretation and should be reviewed with your legal or tax advisor before making any decisions regarding your plan.

Posted 8/16/216