What can i pay for with hsa

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT FAQS & RULES

What is an HSA?

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged medical savings accounts available to United States taxpayers who are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). HSAs are owned by the individual, differentiating them from company-owned Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) that are an alternate tax-deductible source of funds paired with HDHPs. And, unlike a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), HSA funds roll over and accumulate year over year if not spent, with the ability to earn tax-free interest on the account. HSA funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability.

Is an HSA right for me?

For eligible individuals covered by a qualified high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP), an HSA offers a number of benefits. Money that would otherwise be lost to high premiums could be invested in a tax-free, interest-bearing HSA. For those with higher medical expenses, an HDHP combined with an HSA still may provide overall cost savings as compared to a traditional plan with higher premiums and out of pocket maximums. Learn more about the benefits of having an HSA or use our health plan comparison calculator to determine if an HSA is right for you.

Who is eligible to open an HSA?

If you have a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) - either through your employer or one you've purchased on your own - chances are you can open an HSA. Additionally:

• You must have a valid Social Security Number and a primary residence in the U.S.

• You cannot be covered by any other type of health plan, including Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B.

• You cannot be covered by TriCare.

• You cannot have received medical benefits from Veterans Administration for any non-service-connected disabilities at any time during the previous three months.*

• You cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return (unless it's your spouse).

• You must be covered by the qualified HDHP on the first day of the month.

*Title 38 of the United States Code, Section 101(17) defines "non-service-connected" as, with respect to disability, that such disability was not incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.

If I change health plans or change employers, can I still contribute to my HSA?

If you have a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) - either through your employer or one you've purchased on your own - chances are you can still contribute to your HSA with HSA Bank.* Additionally:

• You must have a valid Social Security Number and a primary residence in the U.S.

• You cannot be covered by any other type of health plan, including Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B.

• You cannot be covered by TriCare.

• You cannot have received medical benefits from Veterans Administration for any non-service-connected disabilities at any time during the previous three months.**

• You cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return (unless it's your spouse).

• You must be covered by the qualified HDHP on the first day of the month.

*The content herein is provided for informational purposes. HSA Bank does not provide tax or legal advice. Please refer to IRS guidance, including IRS Publication 969, for additional details.

**Title 38 of the United States Code, Section 101(17) defines "non-service-connected" as, with respect to disability, that such disability was not incurred or aggravated in line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.

Can I be covered under another health plan and still open an HSA?

• If you are covered by another health plan (such as through your spouse's employer), that health plan must meet the criteria outlined above for a qualified HDHP. If you are enrolled in a health plan that does NOT meet the criteria for a HDHP, you may NOT set up an HSA and you must stop contributing to any HSA you do have.

• You may be covered by the following plan types while still being eligible to set up an HSA: dental; vision; short- and long-term disability; life and accidental death; long-term care; and certain health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), including: insurance for specific types of diseases or illnesses, such as cancer plans; hospital indemnity plans; limited-purpose FSA (dental & vision only); and post-deductible Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs).

• NOTE: if a spouse's Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can pay for any medical expenses before the HSA-qualified plan deductible is met, you are not eligible to open an HSA. For you to participate in a health FSA and an HSA at the same time, the FSA, whether provided by your or your spouse's employer, must typically be limited to reimbursing dental expenses, vision care expenses and/or medical expenses that exceed your HDHP deductible. Check with your or your spouse's benefits administrator to determine if you can participate in any health FSA offered by your or your spouse's employer.

What are the advantages of opening an HSA?

An HSA is a unique tax-advantaged account that you can use to pay for current or future IRS-qualified medical expenses. With an HSA, you'll have:

• A tax-advantaged savings account that you use to pay for IRS-qualified medical expenses as well as deductibles, co-insurance, prescriptions, vision and dental care

  • Contributions to your HSA can be made with pre-tax dollars, which reduces your taxable income.

  • Any after-tax contributions that you make to your HSA are tax deductible.

  • HSA funds earn interest tax free** and when used for IRS-qualified medical expenses are also free from tax. **Interest earned is taxed in NJ.

• Unused funds that will roll over year to year. There's no "use or lose it" penalty.

• Potential to build more savings through investing. You can choose from a variety of HSA self‐directed investment options with no minimum balance required

• Additional retirement savings. After age 65, funds can be withdrawn for any purpose without penalty.

• Note: Investment accounts are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guarantee by the bank. Investment losses which are replaced are subject to the annual contribution limits of the HSA.

What is the daily limit for HSA Bank's Health Benefits Debit Card?

Your HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card provides access to your HSA funds at point-of-sale with signature or PIN and at ATMs for withdrawals. The daily debit card limit for the Health Benefits Debit Card is $5,000 at merchants dedicated to healthcare (e.g. a doctor’s office or hospital) and $3,500 at merchants that are not healthcare specific but offer eligible medical products and/or services (e.g. a department or grocery store). The number of debit card transactions allowed per day is limited and varies based on how the card is used or types of transactions processed. These limits exist as a safeguard against fraudulent activity. For more information, please call the number on the back of your Health Benefits Debit Card.

How do I pay for an IRS-qualified medical expense that exceeds the Health Benefits Debit Card daily limit?

HSA Bank provides you with multiple options to pay for an expense that exceeds the Health Benefit Debit Card daily limit of $5,000.* Your options include:

1. You can pay for an expense with your external, personal account or with a credit card and then reimburse yourself by scheduling HSA transfers within the Member Website or mobile app (Note: there is a daily transfer limit of $2,500 to safeguard against fraudulent activity, so multiple transfers will be required for amounts above $2,500).

2. You can work with your provider (or hospital) to make debit card payments over multiple days.

3. You can use our online Bill Pay system to pay a provider. To access Bill Pay, log into the Member Website or mobile app and click on "Make HSA Transaction." (Note: there is no daily limit to pay a provider.)

4. You can pay with an HSA Bank check. Checks can be purchased within the Member Website. Check your Health Savings Account Fee and Interest Schedule for any applicable fees for ordering checks. There is no daily limit on dollar amounts.

NOTE: your transactions are limited to your available cash balance.

*Your HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card provides access to your HSA funds at point-of-sale with signature or PIN and at ATMs for withdrawals. The daily debit card limit for the Health Benefits Debit Card is $5,000 at merchants dedicated to healthcare (e.g. a doctor’s office or hospital) and $3,500 at merchants that are not healthcare specific but offer eligible medical products and/or services (e.g. a department or grocery store). The number of debit card transactions allowed per day is limited and varies based on how the card is used or types of transactions processed. These limits exist as a safeguard against fraudulent activity. For more information, please call the number on the back of your Health Benefits Debit Card.

Do I need to submit receipts for my HSA expenses?

No. You do not need to submit any receipts to us or file any claims. Just be sure to use the money for IRS-qualified medical expenses and save your receipts for tax purposes. Using our online expense tracker, you can easily enter medical expense information and securely upload receipts and supporting documentation – all in one place for easy access and tracking.

Where can I use my HSA?

You can use your HSA Bank Health Benefit Debit Card to pay for doctor visits at the time of the appointment or for qualified items at a pharmacy or other retailer as long as it is for a qualified medical expense. You can also use your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM to reimburse yourself for expenses you paid out-of-pocket (a transaction fee may apply).

How can I check my HSA balance?

You can check your HSA balance by visiting the Member Website, where you will have secure, 24/7 access to your real-time account balances and transaction history. Visit our Member Features page to view other features to help simplify healthcare management.

Can I use my HSA for a spouse?

You can use your HSA to cover qualified medical expenses for you, your spouse, and any dependent children included on your income tax return.

Who can contribute to an HSA?

Any eligible individual may contribute to an HSA. For an HSA established on behalf of an employee both the employee and the employer may make contributions. Family members may also make contributions on behalf of other family members as long as the other family member is an eligible individual (has a qualified high deductible health plan and is not otherwise insured).

What is a "catch-up" contribution?

Eligible individuals over the age of 55 are allowed to make additional "catch-up" contributions to their HSAs. The catch-up amount is $1,000 and if you turn 55 during the year you can contribute the full $1,000.

Are HSA contributions tax deductible?

You can claim a tax deduction for contributions up to the applicable maximum contribution that you, or someone other than your employer, make to your HSA even if you do not itemize your deductions on Form 1040. Contributions up to the maximum contribution limit made by your employer may be excluded from your gross income.

What if I don't use all of my funds within the year?

Unused HSA funds roll over year to year; there is no "use it or lose it" penalty. Funds that are rolled over continue to grow and earnings are tax free. At age 65, you will have the ability to use your HSA funds for any purpose on a taxable basis. This makes funding your HSA a great way to save for retirement.

Do HSA funds rollover?

Any unused funds in your HSA automatically roll over each year. You will not lose any unspent money in your account.

Can I invest my HSA?

Yes you can. Choose from a wide range of securities, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds and more. You can transfer funds between your HSA cash and investment accounts in the Member Website OR by contacting our Client Assistance Center. Visit our HSA Investment page to learn more.

How do I close my HSA?

There are many benefits to your HSA that you should consider before closing your account. Consider keeping your HSA to continue to save for your future health expenses, tax free. If you still feel a need to close your account, please call our Client Assistance Center at (800) 357-6246.

Does HSA Bank have a mobile app?

Yes. HSA Bank Mobile is available on both Google Play (Android-powered devices) and the App Store (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). While it is a free download, you should check with your wireless provider for any associated fees for accessing the Internet from your device. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you can use the app, you must create a Member Website username and password. Without a registered account, you will not be able to access any of the app’s functionality.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT FAQS

What is an FSA?

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are tax-advantaged financial accounts that can be set-up through employers' cafeteria plans in the United States. An FSA allows an employee to designate a portion of his or her pre-tax earnings to pay for qualified expenses as established in the cafeteria plan, most commonly for medical expenses, but often for dependent care or other expenditures. The employer is also allowed to make contributions to employee FSAs, if desired, in order to offer a greater benefit to the staff. Since the money deducted from an employee's pay for transfer to an FSA is not subject to federal, state, or payroll taxes, employees can save upwards of 40% on eligible expenses, and sometimes more, depending on their tax bracket.

How does an FSA work?

With an FSA, you elect to have your annual contribution deducted from your paycheck each pay period, in equal installments throughout the year, until you reach the yearly maximum that you have specified. The amount of your pay that goes into an FSA will not count as taxable income, so you will have immediate tax savings. FSA dollars can be used during the plan year to pay for qualified expenses and services. And at the end of the year, you can roll over up to $500 of your contribution to the next plan year, provided your employer's plan allows this.

Annual participant contributions are limited by The Internal Revenue Service. To view current IRS limits, visit the IRS Guidelines and Eligible Expenses page for more information.

What are the differences between Healthcare FSAs, Limited Purpose FSAs, and Dependent Care FSAs?

• A Healthcare FSA allows reimbursement of qualifying out-of-pocket medical expenses. Common eligible expenses include dental treatment, orthodontia, prescription drugs, diagnostic services, hospital services and surgery, laboratory fees, obstetrical expenses, chiropractic care, physical therapy, eye examinations, glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, hearing aids, smoking cessation programs, and weight loss programs to treat obesity, to name a few.

• A Limited Purpose Medical FSA works with a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP) and Health Savings Account (HSA). A limited FSA only allows reimbursement for preventive care, vision and dental expenses.

• A Dependent Care FSA allows reimbursement of dependent care expenses, such as daycare, incurred by eligible dependents.

What if I don't use all of my funds within the year?

Your plan document may provide for a grace period that allows you to use your remaining funds for IRS-qualified expenses incurred for up to 2 ½ months into the next year.

Alternatively, if you have an FSA or Limited Purpose FSA, you may be eligible to roll over up to $500 of your contribution to the next plan year, provided your employer has changed the plan documents to allow this. This rollover option does not apply to Dependent Care FSAs.

What happens if my employment ends?

Deductions for your Healthcare FSA will also end when your employment ends unless your employer is obligated to offer you COBRA continuation and you elect this option. If your employer is not obligated to offer you COBRA and/or you choose not to elect COBRA, you are eligible to be reimbursed for qualified expenses incurred while you were employed and the account was active. Requests for reimbursements should be submitted prior to the end of your employer's run-out period or period of time for which a claim for an expense can be submitted for a plan year that has ended or after an employee has terminated.

HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT FAQS

What is an HRA?

Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are employer-funded plans that reimburse employees for incurred medical expenses that are not covered by the company's standard insurance plan. Because the employer funds the plan, any distributions are considered tax deductible (to the employer). Reimbursement dollars received by the employee are generally tax-free. Unused HRA dollars may roll over from year to year, if allowed per plan rules, providing a potential incentive for employees to be better stewards of healthcare spending. If employment is terminated, the employer can choose to keep unused funds.

What are the benefits of an HRA?

• Your employer funds your HRA pre-tax. Because the money allocated by your employer doesn't count as income, there are no tax implications. It's kind of like getting a raise.

• Participating in an HRA is a great way to stretch your healthcare budget. An HRA usually sits alongside a health plan with higher deductible, coinsurance and copayment minimums; often these health plans have lower monthly medical premiums allowing you to save money. Some employers allow you to rollover and accumulate unused funds year after year. The more you save in your HRA, the more funds you will have to pay eligible medical expenses when they occur. An employer may also make the HRA portable so that you can take the funds with you when your employment ends or when you retire.

What types of medical expenses are covered by an HRA?

• HRA funds must be used for healthcare expenditures only. Approved healthcare expenditures include those expenses identified by your employer as reimbursable from the HRA that are described as Medical Expenses in Section 213(d) of the IRS code. These expenses may include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, prescription drugs, vision care and dental care. Your employer may limit the expenses your plan reimburses; please consult with your Human Resources department for more information on what expenses are covered by your HRA.

• The IRS has a list of approved healthcare expenditures. However, your employer might have additional limitations. Examples of expenses that are not eligible for reimbursement include:

  • Medical expenses that are not defined as eligible under your employer's plan;

  • Medical expenses that do not meet IRS section 213(d) requirements (e.g., gym memberships, nutritional supplements, cosmetic procedures and surgeries);

  • Medical expenses incurred by you, your spouse or any eligible dependents prior to your effective date in the plan; and,

  • Medical expenses that can be reimbursed to you through any other source such as group health insurance.

Can I contribute funds to my HRA?

HRAs are only funded by your employer. Your employer contributes a determined amount to your HRA. Contact your HR department for specifics on your plan setup.

Can I use an HRA if I have health insurance?

Yes. An HRA is designed to cover expenses not paid by your health plan including deductibles, coinsurance and copayments as well as many expenses your health plan may not cover.

What can I pay for with my HRA?

HRA funds can be used on eligible expenses determined by your employer. These typically include co-pays, health insurance deductibles and other IRS approved healthcare expenses. For more information on your plan, contact your HR department.