PNC Bank (BenefitPlus) will continue to be the administrator for Kent State University's Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) in 2026.
If you are currently enrolled in an HSA or FSA, please be aware that you must use the Open Enrollment portal in Flashline to re-enroll if you wish to have an HSA or FSA in 2026. These accounts DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY RENEW.
| Consideration | HSA (Health Savings Account) | FSA (Flexible Spending Account) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Must enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan | Must be enrolled in a PPO Plan for Health Care FSA No plan requirements for Dependent Care FSA |
| Contribution Limit | $4,400 single or $8,750 family *amounts include an employer contribution | Medical FSA: $3,300 single or family Dependent Care FSA ("daycare"): $7,500 |
| Change Contributions | Start, stop, or change amount anytime throughout the year | Only during open enrollment or in the event of a life status change |
| Continuation and Growth | Unused balances roll over and can be invested. Your HSA goes with you if you leave the university. | Use it or lose it. Funds must be used by March 15 of 2026, unless separating from the university. If separating, must be used within 30 days of final employment date. |
Once enrolled in either the HSA or FSA, PNC Bank, which administers both the HSA and the FSAs for Kent State University, will send you a debit/credit card to access your accounts. If you lose your card or have questions about your PNC account, you can contact PNC through their website PNC BenefitPlus or call their customer service at 844-356-9993.
The Health Savings Account allows you to put money aside and withdraw it, tax-free, as long as you use it for qualified medical expenses like deductibles and copays. The IRS allows for $4,400 to be contributed to a Health Savings Account for single coverage and $8,750 for family coverage. Kent State will contribute $1,300 dollars towards the Health Savings Account for employees enrolling in single coverage and $2,000 for enrolling in family coverage, and those dollars are yours to keep.
HSAs build tax-free interests, plus they roll over year to year. You can contribute to a Health Savings Account and increase or decrease contributions throughout the year. Again, the health savings account is yours to keep even if you leave or retire from Kent State. There will be planned comparisons displayed in the Open Enrollment web pages under the medical plan area for your review.
Yes, Kent State will again contribute $1,300 for a single high-deductible medical plan or $2,000 for a family high-deductible medical plan. For 2026, the IRS maximum TOTAL contribution limit is $4,400 for a single high-deductible medical plan and $8,750 for a family high-deductible medical plan. The employer contribution will be posted to your PNC HSA account 2-3 business days after your first pay date in 2026.
2026 HSA Contribution Limits
| Coverage Level | KSU Contribution | Employee Contribution Limit | IRS Maximum Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $1,300 | $3,100 | $4,400 |
| Family | $2,000 | $6,750 | $8,750 |
Similar to IRAs and 401Ks, enrollees ages 55 and over can elect to make catch-up contributions of $1,000 above the IRS limit for individual and family plans.
The IRS has set qualifying requirements to enroll in a health savings account, such as:
Individuals reaching the age of 65 and who are NOT enrolled in Medicare can have an HSA and contribute to it. Individuals enrolled in Medicare, cannot have an HSA. If Medicare enrollment is completed mid-year, the cardholder can continue using the HSA funds, but will lose the ability to contribute to the account. It is your responsibility to notify the university if you enroll in Medicare and are no longer eligible for an HSA.
For further questions on Medicare and the HSA, please contact PNC Customer Service at 844-356-9993.
If you enroll in a HDHP, you can still enroll in the dependent care ("daycare") flexible spending account, but you cannot enroll in the health care flexible spending account.
Learn even more about HSAs with PNC Bank's Health Savings Account Educational Library (PDF).
You choose a total annual contribution for 2026 and that amount will be divided and deducted on a pre-tax basis from each of your paychecks. Kent State University front-loads this amount to your FSA in early January, giving you immediate access to funds in case you need them.
Your health and/or dependent care FSA contributions for 2026 must remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2026. IRS regulations do not allow increases, decreases, or cancellations of contributions during a plan year unless you have a qualifying life event such as marriage, divorce, birth, death, etc. Any FSA contribution changes you make must be consistent with the type of life event. Proof of the life event (qualifying event) is required and must be submitted within 31 days of the effective date of the change.
Qualified health and dependent care expenses incurred from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2026, will be eligible for reimbursement from your FSA accounts. However, you can still use any remaining 2026 funds from your health care and/or dependent care funds to pay for qualified expenses until March 15, 2027. This means you will have until March 15, 2027, to spend your 2026 FSA funds before they are FORFEITED.
The Health Care FSA provides you the opportunity to have funds deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis for health care expenses for yourself AND your dependents. These funds can be used for expenses that are not covered by your medical, dental, or vision plans such as copays, coinsurances, etc. Eligible health care expenses examples are:
The Dependent Care FSA provides you the opportunity to have funds deducted from your pay on a pre-tax basis for dependent care ("daycare") expenses for your eligible dependents. Dependent Care FSA funds become available with each payroll deduction. Eligible expenses examples include:
Learn even more about FSAs with PNC Bank's Flexible Spending Account Educational Library (PDF).
If you are enrolled in the 85/60 PPO plan, you can contribute to both healthcare and dependent care FSAs.
According to the IRS, the maximum amount you can contribute to the Dependent Care (DAYCARE) FSA is $7,500 for a married couple filing a joint tax return or if filing separate tax returns are $3,750 per spouse.
