CareFirst Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRA) User Guide

CareFirst Transportation Reimbursement Account (TRA)

Introducing the TRA

A transportation reimbursement account (TRA) from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and CareFirst BlueChoice (collectively, “CareFirst”) helps you save money on transportation and parking expenses while commuting to and from work. Paying for these expenses with pretax dollars decreases the amount of taxes you pay and increases your take-home pay for the year.

What you need to know about TRAs

• Using a TRA can save you up to 40% of your commuting costs.
• You decide how much to set aside for work-related transportation expenses.
• The funds will automatically be deducted from each paycheck.
• Unused money from your TRA will roll over from month to month.
• Enroll in the TRA offered by your employer.
• Determine how much you want to contribute— you can change the amount each month.
• Be sure to save all your receipts for reimbursement.
• Depending on IRS guidelines for your federal and state tax bracket.

Pay for your commute and parking tax-free

You can use your TRA for

• Public transportation, vanpools, or ride-sharing with Lyft and Uber
• Transit passes for buses, trains and other public transportation
• Parking garage or secure bicycle storage expenses
• Lyft Line and UberPool using the Commuter Check Prepaid Mastercard®
• Vanpooling that is employer, employee or privately operated and used for going to work Qualified parking expenses
• Parking provided at or near work
• Parking on or near a location providing mass transit, vanpooling or carpooling You can’t use your TRA for:
• Gas and mileage from your daily commute
• Expenses for your spouse or dependents
• Vanpooling with a vehicle having a seating capacity of five or less
• Airport Parking
• Taxis
• Tolls

TRA contribution limits

• The IRS places limits on how much you can save for transportation tax-free:

Easy payment options

• With a TRA, you can choose from a variety of reimbursement options.
• Commuter check vouchers—Available in any amount of $5 or higher, these are redeemable for passes, tickets or cards anywhere in transit vouchers are accepted.
• Prepaid MasterCard®—This reloadable debit card can be used at designated transit agencies and parking facilities.
• Smart cards—Load pretax dollars onto your transit smart card via your online account.
• Parking direct pay—Pretax dollars are sent as payments directly to your parking provider.
• Parking cash reimbursements—Submit claims for reimbursement via check or direct deposit.

We’re here for you
Call 866-758-6119 Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. Members with a CareFirst health plan go to carefirst.com/myaccount. Members without a CareFirst medical plan go to hellofurther.com.

Please note, that the IRS contribution amounts outlined above apply only to the 2024 plan year. The Commuter Check Prepaid Mastercard® may only be used for qualified commuter benefit purchases by IRS Tax Code 132(f) in the United States and District of Columbia. No cash or ATM access. This card may not be used everywhere a Debit Mastercard is accepted. Further is an independent provider of administrative services for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield consumer-directed health care plans. HealthEquity, Inc., the owner of the Further business, is an IRS-approved, non-bank trustee providing HSA custodial services on behalf of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to its members.

HealthEquity Inc., on its own or through the Further business, does not sell Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield products and is solely responsible for the services it provides. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the shared business name of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BLUE CROSS®, BLUE SHIELD® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

Notice of Nondiscrimination and Availability of Language Assistance Services
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc., CareFirst Diversified Benefits and all of their corporate affiliates (CareFirst) comply with applicable federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate based on race, colour, national origin, age, disability or sex. CareFirst does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, colour, national origin, age, disability or sex.

CareFirst

• Provides free aid and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as:

Qualified sign language interpreters
Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats)

• Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as:

Qualified interpreters
Information written in other languages If you need these services, please call 855-258-6518. If you believe CareFirst has failed to provide these services, or discriminated in another way, based on race, colour, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with our CareFirst Civil Rights Coordinator by mail, fax or email. If you need help filing a grievance, our CareFirst Civil Rights Coordinator is available to help you.

To file a grievance regarding a violation of federal civil rights, please contact the Civil Rights Coordinator as indicated below. Please do not send payments, claims issues, or other documentation to this office. Civil Rights Coordinator, Corporate Office of Civil Rights Mailing Address P.O. Box 8894 Baltimore, Maryland 21224
Email Address civilrightscoordinator@carefirst.com
Telephone Number 410-528-7820
Fax Number 410-505-2011

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 509F, H Building
Washington, D.C. 20201
800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the shared business name of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. CareFirst of Maryland, Inc., Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc., The Dental Network and First Care, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. In the District of Columbia and Maryland, CareFirst MedPlus is the business name of First Care, Inc. In Virginia, CareFirst MedPlus is the business name of First Care, Inc. of Maryland (used in VA by First Care, Inc.). The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans

Foreign Language Assistance
Attention (English): This notice contains information about your insurance coverage. It may contain key dates and you may need to take action by certain deadlines. You have the right to get this information and assistance in your language at no cost. Members should call the phone number on the back of their member identification card. All others may call 855-258-6518 and wait through the dialogue until prompted to push 0. When an agent answers, state the language you need and you will be connected to an interpreter.

References

• the My Account login page
• Home - Leading administrator of health spending accounts | HSA | FSA | HRA | Further

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