Your SHPS-administered health care reimbursement account (HCRA) and dependent care reimbursement account (DepCare) will remain active through March 15, 2009. That is the last day that you are allowed to deduct expenses from your 2008 reimbursement accounts (now called flexible spending accounts).

However, your SHPS debit card (used only for the HCRA) will expire on Dec. 31. So, from Jan. 1 through March 15, 2009, if you are still working off your 2008 HCRA account, you must make the payments yourself -- and submit reimbursement claims to SHPS. All 2008 claims are due by June 15, 2009.

For health care expenses that you are deducting from your 2009 flexible spending account, you can use your new CONEXIS debit card starting Jan. 1 or submit reimbursement claims to CONEXIS.

The UC Office of the President announced that more information will be transmitted toward the end of the year.

One more thing to remember about flexible spending accounts: If you wish to continue one or both (for health care and-or dependent care) in 2009, you must take action during open enrollment. Such accounts do not renew automatically.

Read more about open enrollment for 2009.