Benefit Services of Hawaii Inc. – sol(u)tions

Our Products › The Benny™ Card › FAQs

  1. How do I activate my Benny Card?
    Simply call toll-free 1 (866) 898–9795 or visit www.mybenny.com. You will need to enter your card number and additional identification information.

  2. How many Benny Cards will I be issued?
    You will be issued two Benny Cards.

  3. If I'm the flex participant and my spouse wants to use my second Benny Card, do they sign the back of the card or do I?
    Your spouse can sign the back of the card even though the card is issued in your name.

  4. When can I start using my Benny Card?
    Once you activate your card, you can use your card after two business days.

  5. What dollar amount is on my Benny Card when I activate it?
    If your card is available at the start of your plan year, your annual Medical Expense Account election will be loaded on the card. If your card is available after the start of the plan year, your current balance will be loaded on to the card. You will have access to your entire annual election from the start of the plan year.

  6. How does the card know what expenses are eligible?
    The Benny Card is coded to allow only qualified transactions from specific merchants and service providers. If you use the card at a non-qualified merchant (e.g., gas station), the card will be denied.

  7. Where can I use my Benny Card?
    You can use it at various health care establishments like pharmacies, physician/dental offices, hospitals, optical providers, and mail order prescription programs that accept MasterCard. The establishment must have a credit card terminal to use the Benny Card.

  8. If asked, should I select "Debit" or "Credit"?
    The Benny Card is actually a "stored-value" card. But, since there is no "stored-value" selection available, you'll select CREDIT. You don't need a PIN# and you cannot get cash with the Benny Card. You'll need to sign the receipt -- and be sure to save it!

  9. At the pharmacy, can I pay for my prescription together with other eligible items like Tylenol and Motrin?
    No, you can only use your Benny Card at the pharmacy cash register for prescription drugs. You must pay for non-pharmacy items using another form of payment and complete a Reimbursement Request Form. Or, you may go to drugstore.com and purchase over-the-counter items using your Benny Card.

  10. What are some reasons my Benny Card might not work at the point-of-service?

    • Your card has not been activated.
    • You don't have enough funds in your Medical Expense Account to cover the expense.
    • Your expense is incurred at a place that does not accept MasterCard.
    • The merchant is having problems with their card terminal.
    • The merchant is not a health-care related merchant.
    • At the pharmacy, you are including other items when purchasing your prescription drugs -- retry the transaction with covered prescriptions only.
    • If you're asked to press "credit" or "debit" on the card terminal, you press "debit" instead of "credit".
    • Incorrect card expiration date entered when purchasing through drugstore.com.
    • You have not waited two days after activation before purchasing at a pharmacy.

  11. Do I need to save my itemized receipts?
    Yes! Since the Flexible Spending Plan is an IRS-regulated plan, save all receipts. Benefit Services of Hawaii, Inc. (BSHI) may ask you to submit a receipt to verify an expense. If you are asked to submit a receipt and it is not sent to BSHI, your Benny Card may be suspended until the issue is resolved.

  12. If I have to pick up several prescription drugs at the same time, can I pay for it altogether with my Benny Card?
    Yes. You can pay for all prescriptions at one time.

  13. Do I need to pay for my prescription at the pharmacy or can I pay for it at any register in the store?
    You can pay for the prescription at any register in the store.

  14. I am the Benny Card cardholder (flex plan participant) and covered under my spouse's health plan. Can I use the Benny Card to purchase my prescription drugs?
    Yes. You will receive a letter asking for copies of your receipts. Future pharmacy transactions with the same dollar amount will not generate a letter requesting for your receipts.

  15. How do I know what my card balance is?
    You can call our office or visit www.mybenny.com. Please allow up to five days for your settled debit card transactions to appear on the Web site, although it is most often available within one to two days. You will also receive a statement at the 6th and 10th month of your plan year.

  16. What if my expenses exceed my account balance on my Benny Card?
    The card will be denied since there are not enough funds on the card to pay for the expense. You will have to pay for the expense using another form of payment and file a Reimbursement Request Form.

  17. How does the Benny Card work during the 90-day grace period?
    During your 90-day grace period, you can submit a Reimbursement Request Form for services incurred in your previous plan year. You may use the Benny Card for eligible medical expenses for the current plan year.

  18. What if I lose my card?
    You should immediately call our office at (808) 538–8900 on Oahu or toll-free at 1 (800) 490–3956 to report your lost or stolen card. You can also contact us at www.bshi.net. A replacement Benny Card is $10. You should receive a new card within seven to 10 working days. The $10 fee can be deducted from your medical expense account.

  19. What if I need another card for my tax dependent on the Mainland?
    You can call us or email us to order another card. There will be no fee for the additional card.

  20. Will I be issued a new Benny Card each plan year?
    No, you will keep your Benny Card each plan year and your new election amount will automatically be loaded on to the card. At the end of five years, we will issue a new card. If you do not participate in the Medical Expense Account in any given plan year, we will de-activate the card but you should keep the card.

  21. Can I use the Benny Card for my dependents that are not covered under my health plan?
    You are not able to use your Benny Card for your dependents at the pharmacy but you may use it for your dependents at non-pharmacy health care providers like doctors, dentists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, etc. You will receive a letter asking to verify the service by submitting a billing statement or Report to Member.