Updates about your Benefits Card in 2009

Update: IRS Notice 2008-104 (Dec. 4, 2008) has extended the pharmacy IIAS transition deadline to June 30, 2009.

You will be able to use your BPC Benefits Card (formerly known as the MBI debit card) more conveniently than ever before, reducing the number of times that you have to send in sales receipts after using your card. The IRS has issued new rules effective June 30, 2009 for using BPC Benefits Cards at non-medical providers such as pharmacies and drug stores that are similar to the regulations that went into effect January 1, 2008 for grocery stores, supermarkets, discount stores, warehouse clubs, and convenience stores. The IRS is requiring all merchants who sell qualified medical expense goods and services to have an Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) in place by June 30 , 2009 if they want to continue to accept debit cards such as the BPC Benefit Card. The IIAS system automatically identifies and verifies that purchased items are eligible medical expenses at the point of sale, eliminating the need to send in documentation. The card should continue to work as it has in the past at medical providers such as doctors, dentist and hospitals.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Walgreens is not listed by IIAS, what will happen with them?
  
  Walgreens will continue to work as it does now.
  
  
• How will this impact me?
  
  When you make your flex-eligible purchase at an IIAS merchant, you swipe your card and you're done! No further substantiation is necessary. If your purchase is made at a merchant who has not complied with IIAS, your debit card will be denied for that purchase.
  
  
• What does that mean for me?
  
  If your card is denied, you can still submit that flex-eligible purchase for reimbursement and receive a check back. These can be mailed in, faxed in or submitted online to BPC.
  
  
• Will there be places I can't use my card?
  
  Yes. The card will not work at merchants who have not implemented IIAS and do not have a merchant category code that is healthcare related.
  
  
• Can I use my BPC Benefits Card after 6/30/09?
  
  You can easily use your BPC Benefits Card at any merchant who has an Information Approval System (IIAS). BPC is committed to providing an on-line list of merchants who have implemented this. This list will be updated throughout the year. You can access it here.
  
  
• Does this affect my pharmacy?
  
  Yes, as of June 30, 2009 pharmacies and drug stores have to implement IIAS. This is the same system that went into effect for grocery stores and discount stores on January 1, 2008. As of June 30, 2009 IIAS is required at all non-medical providers for the BPC Benefits Card to continue to be accepted as payment. Some smaller, independent pharmacies or other vendors may not have implemented the required system to-date. Your BPC Benefits Card will continue to work at Drug Stores and Pharmacies that have not implemented IIAS until June 30, 2009. However, if you use your card at Drug Stores and Pharmacies that are non-IIAS merchants between now and June 30, 2009, you will need to provide BPC with the required documentation unless your transaction is for a prescription co-pay under your employer's group health plan. If your card is denied, you can still submit eligible purchases for reimbursement and receive a payment back. These can be mailed in, faxed in or submitted online to BPC.