General Questions on Benny™
Your Card for Better Benefits
- What is Benny™. Your Card for Better Benefits?
Benny™ is a MasterCard® or Visa® card that gives you an easy, automatic way to pay for qualified and eligible expenses. Benny™ lets you electronically access the contributions you set aside in your respective employee benefits accounts such as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Qualified Transportation Accounts (QTAs). Note: Your employer may call these by other names so be sure to check your plan documents. - How does the Benny™ work?
The value of your account(s) contribution is able to be accessed using the card. When you have qualified eligible expenses at a business that accepts MasterCard® or Visa®, simply use Benny™. The amount of your qualified purchases will be deducted – automatically – from your account and the dollars will be electronically transferred to the provider/merchant for immediate payment. The funds available to you will depend on the account(s) your employer allows the card to be with. Review your plan documents carefully. - How does Benny™ change the way I am reimbursed for expenses?
Before Benny™, you were required to pay for your eligible expenses at the time of purchase with cash, check or another form of payment. Then, you had to submit claim forms along with all receipts, and wait for the reimbursement to be processed. A check was issued and mailed to you and then you cashed the check. (In essence, you paid twice – through payroll deduction and then at the point-of-service. Then you had to wait for reimbursement.) But Benny™ changes all that!
With Benny™, you simply swipe the Card and the funds are automatically deducted from your respective employee benefit account(s) for payment. Benny™ eliminates most out-of-pocket cash outlays and claims paperwork and the need to wait for reimbursement checks. - Is Benny™ just like another credit card?
Benny™ is a special purpose MasterCard® or Visa® card that is only used for qualified expenses related to your employee benefits accounts. There are no finance charges. - How many cards will I receive?
The number of cards you receive will depend on the benefit(s) you sign up for and your employer allows the card to access. You’ll automatically receive two Benny™ cards, except for Qualified Transportation Accounts (QTAs) where one card is mailed. - Do I need a new card each year?
As long as the respective employee benefit account(s) remain part of your benefit plan and you elect to participate each year your current Benny™ card will be loaded with your new annual election amount at the start of each plan year, until the expiration date on the card. - What if I lose my card or need another one?
You can request a replacement Card through your Plan Administrator. A replacement Card is $10, which may be deducted directly from your account. Call or email your Plan Administrator for details.
Getting Started and Activating your Card
- How do I activate Benny™?
Call the toll free number 1-866-898-9795 or visit the web site on the back of your card.
You only need to activate one card for both to work. Each user needs to sign one of his or her cards with their name to activate both cards. - When can I start using my card?
The Cards can be used after the second business day after you activate, so we can set you up in the system. - What dollar amount is on my card when I activate it?
Once you activate, the dollar value on your Card will be the amount you elected to contribute to your respective employee benefit account(s) during your annual benefits enrollment. It’s from that total dollar amount that eligible expenses will be deducted as you use your card or submit manual claims.
Using the Card
- Where can I use Benny™?
You can use your Card for a variety of qualified health care expenses, such as:- Covered prescription co-pays
- Health plan deductibles
- Doctor and emergency room co-pays
- Coinsurance
- Lasik surgery
- Eyeglasses
- Uncovered dentist or other provider fees
- Orthodontics
- And lots more!
- Are there places the card won’t be accepted?
Yes. Examples include department stores, hardware stores, restaurants, bookstores, gas stations and home improvement stores. - If asked, should I select “debit” or “Credit”?
Benny™ is actually a special purpose card. But, since there is no such selection available, you’ll select Credit. You do not need a PIN# and you cannot get cash with the Benny™. You’ll need to sign the receipt. Be sure to save your itemized receipt copy! - Can I use Benny™ for prescriptions ordered, prior to activating the card?
Sorry, but your Card must be activated prior to the order or purchase date of your prescriptions. To purchase prescriptions at your pharmacy with Benny™, you need to wait 2 business days after activating your card so we can set you up in the system. (e.g. if you activate your card on Tuesday you can pick up your prescription on Thursday.) - Can I use Benny™ if I receive a statement with a Patient Due Balance for a medical service?
Yes. As long as you have money in your account for the balance due, simply write your Benny™ card number on your statement and send it back to the provider - How do I know how much is in my account?
You may view your Account Summary page at www.mybenny.com. Or, you can go to the web site or call your Plan Administrator as indicated on the back of your Card to obtain your current balance. It’s a good idea to know your account balance before you make a purchase with Benny™. - What if I have an expense that is more than the amount left in my Account?
If the expense is more than your remaining balance and the merchant puts through the request for the entire expense, the request will be declined. Outside the pharmacy you can split the cost by telling the clerk you wish to use Benny™ for the exact amount left in your account and then pay for the remaining amount separately. In the pharmacy, you will need to use another form of payment and submit a manual claim to your Administrator. By checking your balance often, you will have a good idea of how much is available in your account. - What are some reasons Benny™ might not work at point of service?
- Your Card has not been activated
- You used your Card before waiting until the second business day after activation
- You have insufficient funds remaining in your respective employee benefit account to cover the expense.
- You’ve included non-qualified expenses at the point-of-service (retry the transaction with the qualified expense only).
- The merchant is encountering problems (e.g., coding or swipe box issues)
- The home address you gave the merchant did not match the address on file with your Human Resources department.
- Whom do I call if I have questions about my card?
Contact your Plan Administrator at the web site or phone number shown on the back of your Card.