UHC Choice Plus, Cigna Open Access Plus, or OOA Plan

Cisco establishes a Health Incentive Account, or HIA, for employees who enroll in these plans. Any incentive payments you earn through HealthConnections activities go into this account. Cisco owns the account, which means that if you leave Cisco, or if you change from a PPO plan to an HPSP or an HMO plan, you will lose the money in the account. Your HIA automatically is used to pay for your deductible, coinsurance, or prescription co-pays.

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The HIA uses Cisco's money to offset your cost of care. You can reduce your taxable income by opening a Health Care Flexible Spending Account to pay for dental and vision expenses, and medical expenses not paid for by your HIA.

Eligible Expenses

HIA funds can be used to pay for eligible medical and prescription drug out-of-pocket expenses for you and your covered dependents. Your health plan—either UHC or Cigna is the best place for guidance if you are unsure if your expense is eligible.

Expenses that cannot be paid by the HIA include anything that has already been paid under the medical plan or any other source, such as the Health Care FSA. Any incentives you earn automatically will be used FIRST to pay your medical expenses. Keep that in mind when you're estimating your FSA amounts for 2012. Any expense that can be paid on a pre-tax basis or taken as a tax deduction is also not an eligible expense.

Because your HIA is tied to your medical plan, any medical expense that is not covered by the plan is not considered an eligible expense under the HIA. Examples include out-of-network expenses above the reasonable and customary (R&C) amounts paid by the plan or visits for chiropractic or acupuncture services beyond the calendar-year maximum, dental and vision expenses, etc. You may contribute to the Health Care FSA to pay for these expenses on a tax-free basis.

Click here to see how the HIA works with your medical plan.

Click here to see a VoD on Health Accounts and how the HIA differs from the HSA and FSAs.