Frequently asked questions


 


 

General FAQs >

  

HSA FAQs >

  

HCFSA, LPFSA, DCFSA, HRA, and RHRA FAQs >

  

NetBenefits AccessCard® FAQs >

  

Commuter account FAQs >


General FAQs

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American transitioned the administrative services of the following accounts for active U.S.-based mainline team members and COBRA participants to Fidelity Investments effective Jan. 1, 2024:

  • Health savings account (HSA).
  • Health care flexible spending account (HCFSA).
  • Limited purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).
  • Dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA).
  • Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).
  • Retiree health reimbursement arrangement (RHRA).
  • Commuter account.

Retirees’ accounts will transition effective April, 1 2024. For more information, please review the Retiree Transition page.

American is continually looking for ways to enhance the team member experience, including how you view and manage all of your American Airlines-sponsored accounts. Transitioning your spending and commuter accounts to Fidelity will offer you an integrated experience for managing your 401(k), pension, spending accounts and commuter benefits all in one place. You will also have access to Fidelity’s tools and resources to help you with your overall financial well-being and goals.

If you have separated from American, you are no longer eligible for a DCFSA and commuter account, regardless of if you elected COBRA coverage.


If you have an HSA:

  • Your account remained with Alight Smart-Choice Accounts and was unable to be transitioned to Fidelity.
  • Your funds are yours to keep.


If you have an HCFSA or LPFSA:

  • You only have access to the remaining balance through the end of the year.
  • Your account closed after Dec. 31, 2023, and did not transition to Fidelity.


If you have an HRA and/or RHRA:

  • If you were 65-point-plan-eligible when you separated from the company, your remaining HRA credits should have converted to RHRA credits.
  • Your HRA and/or RHRA transitioned to Fidelity effective Jan. 1, 2024.

Log in to NetBenefits® to view your new spending and commuter accounts. If you already have a 401(k) or pension with Fidelity, you will not be required to set up a new login or password. You’ll use the same username and password that you’ve already set for Fidelity. If you have not already set up a username and password for your Fidelity 401(k) or pension, you will need to select Register Now on the NetBenefits login page. For assistance, call the American Airlines Service Center at Fidelity at 800-354-3412.

Fidelity also offers an easy-to-use app for your phone or tablet that you can download from the Apple App Store® or Google PlayTM.

You can find your statements on NetBenefits, where they are generated monthly and are available for download for a period of 10 years. Paper statements are also available; just update your communication preferences accordingly.

You have the option to update your preferences on NetBenefits:

  • Log in and access the Profile & Settings icon in the top right of the homepage.
  • Select Communication.
  • From this screen, you can choose between print or email for each communication type. You can also change your preferred email address for email communications.

For HSA holders, you can update your preferences for your statements when you open your Fidelity HSA.

The IRS defines which expenses are eligible for an HSA, FSA and HRA. If you are unsure of what your account dollars may be used for, please refer to these documents:

There are three ways to access your HSA or FSA funds or HRA credits:

  • You may use the NetBenefits AccessCard®, which is a special-purpose Visa® card that provides an easy, automatic way to pay for eligible expenses. When you use your NetBenefits AccessCard® to pay for eligible expenses, the amount is automatically deducted from the appropriate spending account at the point of sale.
  • You can use Fidelity’s online bill payment to pay a provider for any eligible expense you incur. You will find this on the Pay an Expense tab on NetBenefits. 
  • You can submit a claim for reimbursement by logging in to NetBenefits. See the next FAQ for instructions on how to request a reimbursement.

To access commuter funds, you may use the NetBenefits CommuterCard®.

A few things to note:

  • If you have an LPFSA, it can only be used for vision and dental expenses at eye doctor and dental provider offices or at merchants that sell eyeglasses. You won’t be able to use your card for eligible over-the-counter vision and dental expenses. Instead, you can use another form of payment and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
  • If you enroll in an HSA plus an LPFSA for eligible dental and vision expenses, the NetBenefits AccessCard® will pull from your LPFSA first until funds are exhausted, and then the HSA funds will be used.
  • You won’t be able to use your NetBenefits AccessCard® to pay for DCFSA expenses. Rather, you will need to pay for those expenses out of pocket and request reimbursement through NetBenefits. You also have the option to set up an automatic reimbursement for dependent care recurring expenses using the recurring dependent care expense request form.

You can reimburse yourself for eligible expenses you paid out of pocket by accessing funds on NetBenefits or on the NetBenefits app. To do this:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.
  • Select the tile for the account from which you want to reimburse yourself. Your options are HSA and Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts (for all other accounts).
  • For the HSA:
    • Select the Paying tab.
    • Select Reimburse Yourself.
  • For the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts (HCFSA, LPFSA, DCFSA or HRA):
    • Select Reimburse Yourself.

If you have a DCFSA, you are able to set up an automatic reimbursement for dependent care recurring expenses using the recurring dependent care expense request form.

Once sufficient documentation has been received, you can reimburse yourself via direct deposit to a personal bank account or via check. For direct deposit to a linked bank account, reimbursement typically takes three to seven business days, depending on the type of account you have. It will take a few extra days for reimbursement via check, due to the required mail time.

Please visit NetBenefits for more information and to link your bank account:

  • For the HSA, visit the Contributions tab.

  • For the FSAs and HRA, visit the Accounts tab and Add a Bank Account.

Yes. You’ll be able to pay claims online through NetBenefits. You can also use the NetBenefits app to make it easier to track, manage and pay your claims and eligible expenses. In addition, if you paid out of pocket, you can reimburse yourself on NetBenefits (see the question above), but note that the automatic self-reimbursement option is not available at Fidelity.

Yes. The NetBenefits app does allow you to scan and upload copies of receipts for reimbursement. Keep in mind, if you have an HSA, receipts are not required for reimbursement. For all spending accounts, we still recommend that you hold on to your receipts for documentation in the event of a tax audit.

Reimbursements can be requested as often as eligible expenses are incurred. Typically, HCFSA and LPFSA expenses must be incurred during the plan year. DCFSA expenses must be incurred by March 15 of the following plan year. HSA expenses can be incurred during any plan year. HRA reimbursements must be requested within 365 days of the date of service.

Substantiation is the supporting documentation or data that confirms an expense or claim is eligible to be paid. HSA transactions do not require substantiation, and you shouldn’t need to provide a receipt. Most FSA and HRA card transactions are auto-substantiated, and no further action is required. Some claims may not be auto-substantiated when you’re using the NetBenefits AccessCard®, and you may receive a letter or email requesting a receipt to verify the expense. Please save your receipts for all transactions in case you are audited by the IRS.

The IRS requires that substantiating documentation include the following information:

  • Name of person who incurred the service or expense.

  • Name and address of the provider or merchant.

  • Date of service or expense incurred.

  • Detailed description of the service.

  • Amount charged for the service or expense.

Examples of acceptable documentation are:

  • EOB (explanation of benefits).

  • Detailed, itemized receipts.

  • Detailed invoices.

Examples of unacceptable documentation are:

  • Provider statement that only indicates the amount paid, balance forward or previous balance.

  • Credit card receipt.

  • Vague medical provider’s note.

  • Bills for prepaid medical expenses for services that have not yet occurred.

If Fidelity is unable to auto-substantiate a claim, they will send an email to your preferred email address on NetBenefits requesting documentation, and an alert will be displayed on the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts page. After 90 days, you will also receive a letter to your address on record for the American Airlines 401(k) plan.

After you upload (or fax) the applicable documentation, your claim will be manually adjudicated. If the transaction is ineligible or if documentation is not sent after a second request, your claim will be denied, access to your funds on your NetBenefits AccessCard® may be suspended and a request for repayment will be made. Your FSA or HRA on the NetBenefits AccessCard® may be reinstated when substantiating documentation is received or a repayment is made.

Prior claim transactions are reflected in the transaction history, which may remain in the Smart-Choice system for account holder access, as long as you maintain an account with Smart-Choice.

If you consented to participate in the HSA group transfer, or you choose to transfer your HSA to Fidelity on your own at a later time, your existing account will be disabled, and you will no longer be able to access your prior claims data history. If you need to gain access to your prior claims data history, you will need to call the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178 for assistance.

No. Account transaction history will not be transferred. You’ll be able to access your Smart-Choice statements online through the Smart-Choice website, as long as you maintain an account with Smart-Choice. You will use your same user ID and password.

If you consented to participate in the HSA group transfer, or you choose to transfer your HSA to Fidelity on your own at a later time, your existing account will be disabled, and you will no longer be able to access your transaction history. You can also call the Benefits Service Center at 888-860-6178 if you need assistance.

No. Fidelity does not have an automatic self-reimbursement option available. You can reimburse yourself for eligible expenses you paid out of pocket by accessing funds on NetBenefits or on the NetBenefits app. To do this:

  • Log in to NetBenefits
  • Select the tile for the account from which you want to reimburse yourself. Your options are HSA and Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts (for all other accounts).
  • For the HSA:
    • Select the Paying tab.
    • Select Reimburse Yourself.
  • For the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts (HCFSA, LPFSA, DCFSA, or HRA):
    • Select Reimburse Yourself.

If you have a DCFSA, you are able to set up an automatic reimbursement for dependent care recurring expenses using the recurring dependent care expense request form.

Yes. Fidelity offers the ability for you to pay bills for qualified expenses, pay one-time and recurring bills, and review payment history on NetBenefits. To do this:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.
  • Click on the tile for the account from which you wish to pay.
  • Click on Pay for Expense.

No, you will need to enter provider information and addresses in NetBenefits, as they will not transfer over from Smart-Choice.


HSA FAQs


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Actions you need to take

 

If you are an active team member, and did not take all required actions to transfer your existing HSA to Fidelity, you can still initiate an individual transfer to Fidelity. There are two ways to complete an individual transfer:

  • Visit Fidelity and follow the instructions to initiate a transfer of your funds online.
  • Complete this form and mail it to Fidelity at the address on the form.

If you are an active team member and your HSA is now at Fidelity, other actions you should consider include:

  • Updating your goal amount. You may change your goal amount through the Benefits Service Center generally any time throughout the plan year. This amount will be spread across all remaining paychecks for the year.
  • Investing your HSA funds. You may invest some or all of your HSA account balance at Fidelity. Head to NetBenefits to get started. Note: You will need funds in the core position in order to cover any expenses you incur.
  • Designating your beneficiary. If you had a beneficiary designated for your existing HSA, you’ll need to redesignate your beneficiary with Fidelity on NetBenefits.

Yes. You should still elect to open a new HSA at Fidelity and provide your consent to include your existing HSA in American’s group transfer to Fidelity. Fidelity will then combine your new HSA with the HSA from your previous employer; your Fidelity HSA on file from your previous employer will be used. Any investments in your Fidelity HSA from your previous employer will remain.

Yes. You are not required to transfer your account balance from Smart-Choice to Fidelity. However, consolidating your existing HSA balance with a Fidelity HSA enables you to access and manage one health savings account through Fidelity NetBenefits. Contributions will go to your Fidelity HSA starting in January 2024, regardless of whether you choose to keep your existing HSA balance at Smart-Choice. In addition, if you retain your Smart-Choice account, you will be responsible for any fees, including an account closure fee, should you choose to consolidate with Fidelity at a later date.

If you retain your existing HSA, you will be subject to up to $4.50 per month ― $2 in administrative fees and $2.50 in investment fees, if applicable ― for a total of $54 per year. Plus, if you choose to transfer your account at a later time, you will be subject to an account closure fee ($25).

if you choose to transfer your HSA in an individual transfer there will be an account closure fee of $25. Additionally, your HSA will be subject to up to $4.50 per month ($54 per year) in administrative and investment fees for the time your account remains with Smart-Choice (see above question).

If you choose to initiate an individual transfer by March 31, 2024, Fidelity will reimburse your account closure fee in May 2024.

Fidelity’s Customer Identification Program (CIP) is meant to comply with the Patriot Act and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements to verify the identity of its customers. When opening an account, Fidelity will confirm your name, date of birth and Social Security number. If Fidelity is unable to verify this information, Fidelity will send a letter to the address on record for the American Airlines 401(k) plan asking for a form of verification, such as a copy of your driver’s license or Social Security card. If you do not respond to the request, Fidelity will not be able to establish your Fidelity HSA. Some common reasons that Fidelity may require additional information are a recent address or name change.

No. You must first liquidate your investments and turn off automatic investments before the balance can be successfully transferred to Fidelity. If you choose not to liquidate your balance, it cannot be transferred to Fidelity.

There are two ways to complete an individual transfer to Fidelity.

  • Visit Fidelity and follow the instructions to initiate a transfer of your funds online.

  • Complete this form and mail it to Fidelity at the address on the form.

The transaction itself usually clears in one to two business days but will depend upon your specific investments. 

Your balance will not be transferred to Fidelity and the money you have invested will remain invested at Smart-Choice. In this situation, you will be responsible for up to $4.50 per month ($54 per year) in administrative and investment fees from Smart-Choice until you close your existing HSA.

If you consented to have your existing HSA balance moved as an individual transfer, you cannot access the funds from that HSA. During the blackout:  

  • You will not have access to your existing HSA funds. Be sure to consider any transactions you may want to make with your existing account.  
  • You can pay an expense out of pocket, save your receipt and submit for reimbursement after the individual transfer blackout period is completed. 
  • You should not use your Smart-Choice HSA debit card as the charge will be declined.

No. Your investment history at Smart-Choice will no longer be available starting at the beginning of the individual transfer to Fidelity.

 

After opening my Fidelity HSA:

 

Payroll contributions are handled the same with Fidelity as they were with Smart-Choice. Based on your elections, HSA contributions are deducted from your paycheck and deposited in your Fidelity HSA. This money is then available to use toward eligible expenses the next business day. Payroll contributions will accrue throughout the year toward your goal amount.

As in past years, you will continue to make changes to your HSA contributions in the Benefits Service Center. Any mid-year changes must be made by Dec. 2 of the plan year. Please note that a change to your HSA goal amount will in turn update your payroll contribution amount. Any other management of your HSA, such as managing reimbursements and investments, will be done on Fidelity NetBenefits.

Alight Solutions, American’s benefits administrator, will continue to monitor account contributions at various levels, including individual, individual plus catchup, family and family plus catchup, based on coverage type and age. Beginning in 2024, Fidelity also will track maximum contribution amounts and notify you as you approach the applicable maximum amount in your Fidelity HSA. However, it’s your responsibility to ensure you don’t overcontribute if you choose to deposit money directly into your HSA outside of payroll or if you’ve contributed to another HSA.

Tip for new hires: Review any prior contributions that you made within the same calendar year to an HSA with your previous employer before making a contribution to the Fidelity HSA to ensure you do not exceed the IRS annual limit.

Yes. You will see two amounts on the HSA landing page: (1) the amount contributed year-to-date into your Fidelity HSA and (2) your total account balance. Your total account balance, which will include your Smart-Choice HSA funds, will now display after the fund transfer from Smart-Choice was completed on Jan. 10, 2024.

 

Investment options:

 

No. You can invest your entire account balance. However, it is suggested that you keep enough in the core position (which is your uninvested cash in your HSA) if you plan to use your HSA to pay for eligible medical expenses. If all of the account funds are invested, there would be no funds available for claims or NetBenefits AccessCard® payments, and some liquidation of assets would be needed.

Yes. You must have money available in the core position (which is your uninvested cash in your HSA) to use your NetBenefits AccessCard®. If there is no money available in the core position or you haven’t accrued enough, you will not be able to use the NetBenefits AccessCard® at the point of service. An investment trigger can help you keep enough in the core position to pay for current medical expenses; any funds over that amount will be automatically invested in your chosen investments.

There is no minimum balance required to start investing your Fidelity HSA money. However, certain mutual funds may have minimum investment requirements.

Fidelity provides broad investing options for your HSA, including:

  • Fidelity HSA Funds to Consider — funds selected by Fidelity for HSA investing, all with waived investment minimums and no transaction fees1.

  • Single-fund options, such as target date funds and target allocation funds.

  • Fidelity’s entire brokerage lineup — mutual funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, U.S. Treasuries, FDIC-insured CDs and more.

1Transaction fees refers to fees for account features such as account opening, funds transfer, debit cards, excess contributions, etc. and does not include recordkeeping fees, which may be charged to employers.

Once your Fidelity HSA has been opened, you will receive an email from Fidelity to activate your account. After you have activated your account, follow these steps to view the investment options available to you:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.

  • Select the HSA tile.

  • Select Investing from the summary page,

You can review your investment strategy one-on-one with a Fidelity representative at no cost. Call the American Airlines Service Center at Fidelity at 800-354-3412 to schedule an appointment. You may also visit any Fidelity Investor Center to discuss your investment strategy.

 

Taxes:

 

No. Transfers are not reported on the Form 1099-SA to the IRS. However, you are encouraged to review applicable rules for your state and consult with a financial advisor.

You have until the 2023 tax year filing deadline (April 15, 2024) to make any adjustments to your 2023 contribution amounts. Consult a tax professional regarding your specific situation, and if it is determined that you have overcontributed in 2023, you may call the American Airlines Service Center at Fidelity at 800-354-3412 to process a return of excess funds.

For the 2023 tax year, if you took distributions from your HSA in 2023, you’ll receive the Form 1099-SA tax document from Smart-Choice. The transfer of funds from one custodian to another is not considered a distribution but rather a transfer.

Any contributions made to your Fidelity HSA for tax year 2023 in 2024 will result in Fidelity issuing a Form 5498-SA by May 31, 2024.

In 2024 and beyond, if you’ve transferred your account balance over to a Fidelity HSA, you’ll receive a Form 1099-SA and Form 5498-SA, both from Fidelity.

 

Beneficiary designations:

 

No, you will need to designate new beneficiaries for your HSA in your Fidelity account. Any beneficiaries previously designated at Smart-Choice or with your American Airlines 401(k) plan or pension, if applicable, will not apply to your HSA. Your HSA beneficiaries must be designated separately.

Any balance remaining in your Fidelity HSA will become the property of the named beneficiary of the account. If a spouse is the named beneficiary, the account can be registered in the spouse’s name. But if someone other than a spouse is the named beneficiary, the Fidelity HSA will cease to be an HSA on the date of the account holder’s death. The fair market value of the assets in the HSA will be included in the named beneficiary’s gross income. Please consult an attorney or tax professional for more information.


HCFSA, LPFSA, DCFSA, HRA and RHRA FAQs


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FSA FAQs

 

For the HCFSA and LPFSA, the full benefit amount that you elected is available from the beginning of the coverage period, regardless of how much has been contributed to date. For the DCFSA, your funds are available after each payroll contribution.

Changes to your FSA contributions are only permitted during Annual Enrollment or following a qualifying life event. To process your life event and subsequently make changes to your FSA contributions, please visit the Benefits Service Center. Please note that a change to your FSA goal amount will in turn update your payroll contribution amount.

American allows you to roll over a specified amount of remaining funds into the next plan year. For 2023 into 2024, that amount is $570.

Yes. You may use your HCFSA funds to pay for eligible medical expenses for not only yourself but also your spouse or a dependent, even if they are covered under another health plan. The same goes for your LPFSA and paying for eligible dental and vision expenses. Consult a qualified tax advisor for advice.

You will still have access to your LPFSA funds, and they will continue to be limited to eligible dental and vision expenses.

You will need to submit reimbursement requests to Alight Smart-Choice Accounts through the Benefits Service Center.

You will need to submit reimbursement requests to Smart-Choice through the Benefits Service Center for expenses incurred between these dates if you would like them to be paid with dollars from your 2023 DCFSA. The deadline is March 31, 2024.

Yes. You can enter recurring claims on NetBenefits, eliminating the need to file for reimbursement for each subsequent claim. Recurring claims are inputted with the applicable information, including the length of time that the recurring claim should be filed.

For HCFSA and LPFSA, you may keep your account if you elect to continue COBRA coverage. Otherwise, your HCFSA or LPFSA terminates.

DCFSA is not eligible for continuation under COBRA. Once you retire or separate, your DCFSA terminates.

You have until the end of the plan year to submit eligible FSA expenses incurred prior to your termination date for reimbursement.

 

HRA FAQ

 

If you are an active team member, participating in the Plus medical plan option, once you have completed your annual preventive exam during the year, American will contribute credits to your HRA. If you elected the Plus medical option for the first time for 2024, this means that your NetBenefits AccessCard® will not have any HRA credits until you complete your annual preventive exam. If you do not have funds in any other spending account and try to use the NetBenefits AccessCard® before the credits have been contributed to your HRA, your transaction will be denied.

 

RHRA FAQs

 

No. If you are a retired team member, there are no actions you need to take for your RHRA to transition to Fidelity effective April 1, 2024. For more information about the retiree RHRA transition, visit the Retiree Transition page. 

If you are an active team member or COBRA participant, your RHRA transitioned to Fidelity on Jan. 11, 2024.

If you are a retired team member with your RHRA(s) transitioning to Fidelity, your NetBenefits AccessCard® will be mailed in mid-March 2024.

No. Your American Airlines RHRA(s) will not merge with any existing RHRA(s) you may already have at Fidelity from other employers. 


NetBenefits AccessCard® FAQs


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For active team members, the last day you could use your Smart-Choice debit card was Dec. 31, 2023. For retirees, the last day is Feb. 22, 2024.

The NetBenefits AccessCard® is a special-purpose Visa® debit card that provides an easy, automatic way to pay for eligible expenses. The card provides electronic access to the amounts set aside in these accounts: HSA, HCFSA, LPFSA, HRA, RHRA (retirees only).

The value of your available account balance(s) is stored on the NetBenefits AccessCard®. You can use your card to pay for eligible expenses at eligible merchants and service providers that accept Visa debit cards for payment. The eligible amount of the purchase will be deducted automatically from the appropriate account based on the type of merchant, expense type and available balance in the account. If you have multiple account balances (e.g., HSA and HRA) stored on your NetBenefits AccessCard®, a predetermined hierarchy based on the type of merchant is used to apply the different expense types to the appropriate account.

If you enroll in an HSA and a LPFSA and use your NetBenefits AccessCard® for dental and vision expenses, which are classified as limited purpose expenses, the card will first pull from your LPFSA until funds are exhausted, and then defer to HSA funds for any excess expenses. For all medical and prescription expenses, the NetBenefits AccessCard® will only pull from your HSA; your LPFSA funds will not be used for medical and prescription expenses, as those are not eligible expenses as defined by the IRS.

IRS rules allow you to use your NetBenefits AccessCard® in participating pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, discount stores and supermarkets that can identify eligible items at checkout and accept Visa® debit cards. Eligible expenses are deducted from the appropriate account balance(s) at the point of sale.

Transactions made at these locations are fully auto-substantiated, and in most cases, you won’t need to submit substantiating documentation. For FSAs and HRAs in particular, some plan designs may also allow you to use your card in pharmacies that have certified that 90% of the merchandise they sell is eligible. However, since these pharmacies cannot identify the eligible items at the point of sale, another form of substantiation or paper follow-up will be required. In these instances, you will receive a letter or notification from Fidelity Reimbursement Accounts Services if there is a need to submit a receipt. Please hold on to any receipts in case your expense is unable to be auto-substantiated.

You may also use your card to pay a hospital, doctor, dentist or vision provider that accepts Visa® debit cards.

Yes. The card will not be accepted at merchants that do not offer eligible goods and services, such as hardware stores, restaurants, bookstores, gas stations and home improvement stores. Even if the item you are purchasing is allowable under IRS rules, the card may be declined because the merchant is not eligible. However, you can pay for expenses out of pocket and then seek reimbursement.

For the HSA, HRA and RHRA, you can reimburse yourself from your account on NetBenefits or the NetBenefits app. (If the expenses constitute eligible medical expenses, the reimbursement will be federal-tax-free; otherwise, the reimbursement may be subject to federal taxes and an additional tax penalty.)

For an FSA, please submit any receipts for eligible items for manual reimbursement from Fidelity. To do this:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.
  • Select the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts tile.
  • Select the FSA from which you want to reimburse yourself.
  • Select Reimburse Yourself.

Purchases at pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, discount stores, department stores and supermarkets where the point-of-sale system cannot identify eligible items at checkout will not be accepted. You also cannot use your NetBenefits AccessCard® to get cash at an ATM. 

We recommend you select the “Credit” option at the terminal to increase the likelihood your transaction will be approved. If you are prompted to enter a personal identification number (PIN), ask the cashier if they can assist you in bypassing the PIN entry screen, even if you have selected one for your card.

You may be asked to submit documentation to verify that your expenses comply with IRS guidelines. For this reason, itemized receipts should be saved for all HSA, HRA, RHRA, HCFSA and LPFSA purchases. Each receipt must show:

  • Name of the person who incurred the service or expense.
  • Name and address of the provider or merchant.
  • Date of service or expense incurred.
  • Detailed description of the service.
  • Amount charged for the service or expense.

If you are an active team member, as part of the transition to Fidelity, your NetBenefits AccessCard® was mailed to you at your address on record for the American Airlines 401(k) plan. Cards were generated when your account was opened and were mailed to you in December 2023. You should have received one NetBenefits AccessCard® that can be used for your HSA, HRA, HCFSA and LPFSA.

If you are a retired team member with RHRA(s) transitioning to Fidelity, your NetBenefits AccessCard® will be mailed to you at your address on record in mid-March 2024. This debit card is for use with your American RHRA only. If you have an RHRA from another former employer, you will continue to access those funds as you do today.

Yes. You may request additional cards for your spouse, domestic partner or eligible dependents online. Log in to NetBenefits and click on Request Additional Cards at the bottom of the Reimbursement Accounts Summary.

No. Your card is good through the expiration date shown on the front of the card. If you have at least one eligible account balance available on your card, you will receive a new card during the month your existing card expires.

You cannot use your NetBenefits AccessCard® until it has been activated. To activate your card, call the toll-free number on the activation sticker on the front of the card or visit fidelitydebitcard.com.

To report a lost or stolen card and request a replacement:

  • Call the NetBenefits AccessCard® Debit Card Services team at 833-811-7432.

  • Call the American Airlines Service Center at Fidelity at 800-354-3412, who will transfer you to the Debit Card Services team.

To view your current account balances and account activity, log in to NetBenefits. Always check your account balances before making a purchase with your NetBenefits AccessCard®.

When incurring an expense that is greater than the amount remaining in your account(s), you may be able to split the cost at the register (check with the merchant). For example, tell the clerk to use your NetBenefits AccessCard® for the exact amount left in your account(s), and then pay the remaining balance separately with another form of payment. If the merchant is not able to split the cost at the register, a transaction greater than the available balance in your account will be declined and you will have to pay by other means. You can then submit a reimbursement request for the exact amount left in your account(s).

The most common reasons why a card may be declined at the point of sale are:

  • The card has not been activated.

  • There are insufficient funds in the account to cover the expense at the time the card is used.

  • You used a PIN instead of using the card like a credit card at a merchant that doesn’t support health care PIN transactions.

  • Noneligible expenses have been included at the point of sale. (Try the transaction with the eligible expense only.)

  • The pharmacy, discount store or supermarket cannot identify eligible items at checkout according to IRS rules.

  • The merchant is encountering system processing problems.

Call the NetBenefits AccessCard® Debit Card Services team at 833-811-7432.


Commuter account FAQs


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A commuter account allows you to set aside pretax funds to pay for eligible transit expenses related to commuting to work. Transit benefits are limited to your expenses only. Reimbursement is not allowed for spouse or dependent transit expenses.

Eligible expenses include public transportation (for example, train, bus, monorail, streetcar, subway and ferry). This also includes services such as UberPool and Lyft Shared. Vanpool expenses are eligible, but the highway vehicle must seat at least six adults, excluding the driver.

You can make a commuter account election on NetBenefits by following these steps:

  • Log in and select the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts tile.
  • Under Your Current Benefits, select Eligible next to Transit.
  • Select Enroll in Commuter.

Once you enroll, your election will carry over from month to month, until you unenroll from the commuter benefit on NetBenefits. For direction on how to change your election amount or unenroll from the commuter benefit, please see the other FAQs in this section.

For 2024, the maximum monthly amount in which you can enroll is $315 for transit expenses.

Yes. Election amounts can be updated on NetBenefits. Follow these steps:

  • Log in and select the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts tile.

  • Under Your Current Benefits, select Transit.

  • Hover over Account in the upper menu bar and select Account Summary.

  • Select the “+” icon beside your transit account.

  • Select Update Election.

Funds are available as they are contributed to your account each payroll cycle. As a reminder, you will need to enroll in commuter benefits the month prior to your commuter expense. Be sure to make your commuter election by the 12th of the previous month. The funds will generally be removed from your last paycheck of the month to cover the next month’s commuter election amount.

The NetBenefits CommuterCard® can be used to purchase mass transit passes, tokens or fare cards at a valid transit fare terminal. The amount of funds on your card must cover the full balance of your purchase, or the transaction will be declined. You can split the cost of your purchase by paying with the remaining balance on your card, then using an alternate form of payment for the balance. For example, if you’re purchasing a transit pass that costs $300 and have a $250 balance on your NetBenefits CommuterCard®, present your NetBenefits CommuterCard® for the first $250 and an alternate form of payment for the remaining $50.

Follow these steps:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.

  • Select the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts tile.

  • Under Your Current Benefits, select Transit.

  • Select Accounts and then Account Summary in the green header bar.

No. Transit benefits are limited to team member expenses only. Reimbursement is not allowed for spouse or dependent transit expenses.

Your NetBenefits CommuterCard® card will be deactivated as of your separation date, and you’ll have until the end of the plan year, also known as a run-out period, to submit mass transit claims incurred while you were still actively employed. After the run-out period ends, any remaining funds in your account are forfeited.

To cancel your enrollment, follow these steps:

  • Log in to NetBenefits.
  • Select the Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts tile.
  • Under Your Current Benefits, select the Transit plan name.
  • Follow the instructions for updating your commuter enrollment.

After you cancel your enrollment, you can continue to use your NetBenefits CommuterCard® for mass transit expenses until you use any remaining balance.

Commuter benefits are a month-to-month benefit, so you aren’t required to reenroll. This means that at the end of the year, funds will automatically roll over to the new year.