One of the greatest benefits of an employer-sponsored health account is its flexibility. You can use your pre-tax funds to pay for qualified medical expenses not just for yourself, but also for your spouse and eligible tax dependents.
This guide covers who qualifies as an eligible dependent under IRS regulations and how to manage them inside your user portal.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Who Qualifies as an Eligible Dependent?
⏱️ The Timing Rule: For an expense to be eligible, the individual must have been your legal dependent either at the time the medical service was provided or at the time the expense was paid.
According to IRS guidelines, your account can reimburse eligible medical expenses for:
Your Legal Spouse
A Qualifying Child
A Qualifying Relative
The Core Exception for Health FSAs
Under IRS Section 105(b), the definition of a dependent for health coverage is broader than the definition used when filing your annual tax return. Normally, you cannot claim someone as a tax dependent if they file a joint return, earn too much money, or if you yourself are claimed as a dependent.
For Health FSA purposes, you can ignore those three constraints. You can use your FSA for an individual if they meet all other criteria but fail any of these tax-specific tests:
They earned more than the standard IRS gross income limit for the year.
They filed a joint tax return with their spouse.
You (or your spouse, if filing jointly) could be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.
Who Qualifies as a "Qualifying Child"?
To use your funds for a child, they must meet the following four tests:
Relationship Test: Must be your son, daughter, stepchild, foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a direct descendant of any of them (e.g., your grandchild).
Age Test: Must be under age 19 at the end of the year, OR under age 24 and a full-time student. They must also be younger than you or your spouse (unless they are permanently and totally disabled, in which case there is no age limit).
Residency Test: Must have lived with you for more than half of the calendar year.
Support Test: The child must not have provided more than half of their own financial support for the year.
💡 Special Adult Child Exception (Up to Age 26): Thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), your child's medical expenses qualify for tax-free reimbursement through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26, regardless of whether they live with you, are married, are a student, or qualify as your tax dependent. For this specific exception, the individual must be your biological son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter.
Who Qualifies as a "Qualifying Relative"?
You can use your funds for an extended family member or household member if they meet these requirements:
Relationship Test: They do not meet the criteria to be anyone's "Qualifying Child," and they are either an immediate relative (parents, grandparents, step-parents, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and immediate in-laws) OR an unrelated household member who lived with you uninterrupted for the entire year as a member of your household (provided the relationship does not violate local law).
Support Test: You must provide more than half of this person's total financial support for the calendar year.
Special Scenarios
Children of Divorced or Separated Parents
For medical expense purposes, a child of divorced or separated parents is legally treated as the dependent of both parents. Either parent can pay for and claim reimbursement from their respective account for the child's medical expenses, regardless of which parent officially claims the child's dependency exemption on their tax return. This applies as long as the parents are apart, the child is in custody for more than half the year, and receives more than half of their support from the parents.
Support Under a Multiple Support Agreement
A multiple support agreement is utilized when a group of people collectively provide more than half of an individual's financial support, but no single person provides more than 50% on their own. If you are the designated individual chosen to claim that person as a dependent under a Multiple Support Agreement, you are permitted to fully reimburse any eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses that you personally pay on behalf of that relative.
Part 2: How to Add or Manage Dependents in the Portal
Keeping your dependent information up to date ensures your family members have seamless access to their benefits. Follow the steps below to manage your account on a web browser.
How to Add a New Dependent
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Access Your Account Settings: Log in to your RMR portal by going to https://user.rmrbenefits.com/login. Click on your initials located at the top right corner of the homepage to open the menu, then select Manage Account.
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Navigate to Dependents: Locate the Dependents tab in the account menu. Once there, click the Add Dependent button.
Enter Information & Save: Fill in the required fields with your dependent’s information. Once complete, click Add Dependent to save the new profile to your account.
How to Edit or Remove a Dependent
If you need to update information for an existing dependent or remove them from your account:
Navigate back to the Dependents tab.
Locate the dependent’s name in the list.
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Click the three-dot icon (⋮) next to their name to reveal the Edit or Remove options.
Troubleshooting & Common Questions
Why is the "Add Dependent" button greyed out or missing?
Make sure you have fully registered and verified your account. If you have an HSA, you may need to pass additional identity verification. Please see our Account Management & Profile Updates Guide for assistance.
I am receiving an error message when saving.
Ensure that all required fields are filled out correctly. Common errors include entering a date of birth in the wrong format or leaving a mandatory field blank.
Can I delete a dependent I added by mistake?
Yes. Use the three-dot icon (⋮) next to their name and select "Deactivate" or "Remove."
Contact Participant Services
💬 Live Chat: Available via the User Portal
✉️ Email: info@rmrbenefits.com
📞 Phone: 888-722-1223
🕒 Support Hours: M–F, 8 AM – 5 PM MST
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