How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA (2024)

How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA (1)

Contribute to Your Health Savings Account (HSA)

Contributing to your Health Savings Account (HSA) is easy and convenient. HSA Bank provides multiple ways for you to make a contribution to your account.

Payroll Deductions – If you have a health plan through your employer, you may be able to make pre-tax contributions to your HSA from your paycheck. Contact your employer for more information about this option.

Online Transfers – You can contribute to your account through our Member Website.

Transfers or Rollovers – IRS regulations permit the transfer or rollover of funds to an HSA from an existing HSA or MSA (Medical Savings Account). To learn more about consolidating your HSAs or transferring funds, visit hsabank.com/transfer.

How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA (2)

Pay for IRS-Qualified Expenses With Your Health Savings Account

It’s easy to pay for IRS-qualified healthcare expenses with your HSA. We offer several convenient options to pay for current or future healthcare expenses, which include deductibles, co-insurance, prescriptions, vision, dental care, and more. For more information on IRS-qualified medical expenses, click here.

An HSA is a unique tax-advantaged account that can be used for current or future healthcare expenses. To pay for a service or make a purchase, you need to have the available funds in your account.

Use Your Health Benefits Card – Your HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card provides access to your HSA funds at point-of-sale with signature or PIN.1 HSA Bank limits point-of-sale debit card transactions to medical merchants. Debit card transactions are limited to your current balance.2

You can designate an authorized signer and request a debit card for them at any time on the Member Website.

Pay Online – You can pay a provider directly from your HSA on the Member Website or mobile app.

How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA (3)

Reimburse Yourself for Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses

Did you know that you can pay yourself back from your HSA for IRS-qualified medical expenses that were paid out of pocket? We offer multiple options for accessing your funds.

  • HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card – You can use your HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card at an ATM3 to reimburse yourself for eligible expenses paid out-of-pocket (a transaction fee may apply).

    Note: When withdrawing HSA funds from an ATM, be sure to select the "checking" option (not savings) when asked the type of account you are withdrawing from.

  • Online Transfer – On HSA Bank’s Member Website, you can transfer funds from your HSA to an external bank account, such as a personal checking or savings account. There is a daily transfer limit of $2,500 to safeguard against fraudulent activity.

Note: You will be able to reimburse yourself for IRS-qualified medical expenses that you incur from the establishment date of your HSA. For example, if your HSA establishment date is January 1, you can reimburse yourself for expenses incurred on or after that date.

1

Transaction fees may apply when the HSA Bank Health Benefits Debit Card is used with a PIN. For applicable fees, see your HSA Bank Interest and Fee Schedule or Explanation of HSA Bank Fee Changes document.

2

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.

3

Fee per ATM withdrawal may apply.

How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA (2024)

FAQs

How to Use Your Health Savings Account - HSA? ›

Contributing the maximum annual contribution and investing for the long term is the best way to get the most benefit from your HSA. Avoid using the HSA as your emergency fund because nonqualified withdrawals are subject to ordinary taxes and possibly penalties.

How do you use HSA efficiently? ›

Contributing the maximum annual contribution and investing for the long term is the best way to get the most benefit from your HSA. Avoid using the HSA as your emergency fund because nonqualified withdrawals are subject to ordinary taxes and possibly penalties.

How does IRS know what you spend HSA on? ›

Verification of expenses is not required for HSAs. However, total withdrawals from your HSA are reported to the IRS on Form 1099-SA. You are responsible for reporting qualified and non-qualified withdrawals when completing your taxes.

How much is enough in HSA? ›

The short answer: As much as you're able to (within IRS contribution limits), if that's financially viable. If you're covered by an HSA-eligible health plan (or high-deductible health plan), the IRS allows you to put as much as $3,850 per year (in 2023) into your health savings account (HSA).

What happens if I accidentally use my HSA card for non medical expenses? ›

IRS penalty and taxable income

Prior to age 65, if you use your money for non-qualified expenses, the IRS imposes a hefty HSA withdrawal penalty of 20 percent on the amount withdrawn.

Should I max out my HSA every year? ›

Max out your contributions if you can

If you're able, consider contributing the maximum allowed by the IRS. The more you can contribute, the more you can benefit from the HSA's potential triple tax advantages1. Keep in mind: you don't lose any unspent funds at the end of the year.

Can I use my HSA for anything I want? ›

If you have money in your HSA when you turn 65, you can spend it on anything you want — but if you aren't spending it for a qualified medical expense it will be taxed as income at your then current tax rate. You can use HSA funds to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other qualified medical expenses.

Do I need receipts for HSA expenses? ›

Always save your receipts and supporting documentation for your records. While Benefit Resource will not ask you to provide a receipt for an HSA expense, you are responsible for maintaining documentation of account use in the event that you are ever audited by the IRS.

Do you need receipts for HSA withdrawals? ›

Good recordkeeping avoids future tax headaches. Essentially, any money that comes out of your HSA must have a receipt showing it was for an eligible medical expense. You may face a 20% penalty on any distribution that you cannot prove was for a qualified medical expense.

Do you have to keep receipts for HSA purchases? ›

HSA reimbursem*nts need matching receipts.

When paying out of pocket for healthcare expenses, employees can reimburse themselves from the HSA at any time – so encourage them to save receipts, as they will need documentation of expenses to match reimbursem*nts.

Do HSA funds expire? ›

Your HSA contributions don't expire. The money stays in the HSA until you use it. expenses for your spouse and dependents, even if your high deductible health plan doesn't cover them. ∎ HSA doesn't go away if job changes.

Can you put too much in HSA? ›

Putting too much money in your HSA can happen, but the IRS isn't happy when it happens. In fact, you'll be penalized for it unless you catch it and fix it.

When should I stop contributing to my HSA? ›

3 times it's okay to stop funding your HSA
  1. Your financial situation has changed. ...
  2. You're getting close to age 65 or you're no longer eligible. ...
  3. You've hit the max contribution limit.

What are the most common mistakes for HSA? ›

The most common HSA mistakes include depositing too much, withdrawing funds by mistake, and using your HSA funds for non-qualified expenses.

Can I use HSA for groceries? ›

No, you can't use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for straight food purchases like meat, produce and dairy. But you can use them for some nutrition-related products and services. To review, tax-advantaged accounts have regulatory restrictions on eligible products and services.

Can I use my HSA card for gas? ›

Fuel, gasoline for medical care reimbursem*nt is eligible with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursem*nt arrangement (HRA).

How can I get more money from my HSA? ›

A: Here are a few ways you can contribute to your HSA: Payroll deduction – Many employers offer the option to deposit money to your HSA automatically from your paycheck. Deposit or transfer – Write a check, transfer money from another account or deposit cash into your HSA.

When should I withdraw from HSA? ›

After you reach age 65 or if you become disabled, you can withdraw HSA funds without penalty, but the amounts withdrawn will be taxable as ordinary income if not used for qualified medical expenses. Can I withdraw the funds from my HSA at any time?

What is the benefit of putting money in HSA? ›

A health savings account (HSA) can help you lower your taxes, pay for health care more easily and even save for retirement. HSAs are only available with high-deductible health plans. You can use HSA funds to pay for eligible health care expenses and for out-of-pocket costs your health plan doesn't cover.

Can you use HSA for gym membership? ›

Physical therapy is an approved medical expense. Can I use my HSA for a gym membership? Typically no. Unless you have a letter from your doctor stating that the membership is necessary to treat an injury or underlying health condition, such as obesity, a gym membership isn't a qualifying medical expense.

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