Cafeteria Plans are an employer-sponsored benefit that lets employees pay certain qualified medical expenses – such as health insurance premiums for medical, dental, and vision coverage – on a pre-tax basis. They are sometimes called Section 125 Cafeteria Plans. “Section 125” refers to the portion of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that regulates these pre-tax … More >>
With one in five U.S. adults experiencing some form of mental illness in any given year, the need for mental health care impacts many families. Yet, according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), 55 percent of adults and 49 percent of children ages 6-17 with a mental illness don’t receive mental health care services. … More >>
COBRA coverage can work with healthcare benefit accounts such as HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs to help former employees meet their eligible medical expenses.
Although COVID-19 has been the top health story for over a year now, another disturbing health trend emerged in 2020: fewer people are quitting smoking. The health dangers of smoking cigarettes are well-documented. Since the U.S. surgeon general’s groundbreaking report in 1964, the number of adults who smoke has declined from 43 percent to 14 percent in 2019. Cigarette … More >>
Opening a Health Savings Account (HSA) can be a great investment in your personal healthcare and financial future. Owned by the participant-employee (rather than the employer), the HSA is a versatile spending and savings account that can be used for many healthcare expenses. Since they can keep the account for life, HSA owners should adopt … More >>
When an HSA owner has a change of status during the year, it affects how much he or she can contribute to their Health Savings Account (HSA). Learn how a mid-year change of status affects HSA contribution limits below. When a person with a qualified high deductible health plan signs up for an HSA, the … More >>
The fight against COVID-19 has expanded to the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) items. On Friday, March 26, the IRS released Announcement 2021-7, which qualifies PPE purchased for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 as medical expenses under section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. The regulation allows specific items to be … More >>
Do you know the difference between a HRA vs HSA? The key difference between the two is that an HRA is employer-owned whereas an HSA is employee-owned. With an HSA, the employee keeps the account and can transfer it when he or she changes jobs. Account holders may also invest their HSA funds.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a wonderful tool for saving money on healthcare expenses. When you enroll in a qualified high deductible health plan and sign up for an HSA, you contribute pre-tax money into an account then withdraw those funds for qualified healthcare expenses. When used for qualified expenses, withdrawals are tax-free. However, many HSA owners wonder if the money can be used for non-qualified expenses. If so, is there an HSA withdrawal penalty?
Summit HSA features comprehensive, cloud-based HSA functionality, allowing TPAs to provide a level of service many banks won’t offer. Designed for simple HSA management, Summit features comprehensive functionality for TPAs, employers, and participants. Administrators be as hands-on or as hands-off as they like, with options such as allowing participants can enroll online, make elections, and … More >>
For people enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and have (or are considering) an HSA, some commonly asked questions include “Does Medicare Enrollment Impact My HSA Eligibility?” Here are the answers to this question and others.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published Rev. Proc. 2020-45, announcing annual limits for Flexible Spending Account (FSA) contributions, maximum carryover amounts, and Transportation benefit (Transit/Commuter/Parking) contribution limits. FSA, LPFSA, and related limits for 2021 will remain the same as they are for 2020. Learn more about 2021 FSA contribution limits and other updates below. 2021 … More >>
To increase Health Savings Account (HSA) and high deductible health plan (HDHP) adoption, TPAs and employers should understand what drives employee behavior. The following infographic outlines the keys to increasing HSA and HDHP adoption. HSAs and High Deductible Health Plans: A Guide to Increasing Adoption Offering Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) paired with a high deductible … More >>
Employers may be switching to HDHPs and HSAs, but there are still some barriers to employees embracing the change. A lack of understanding and confusion about cost shifting are among the factors in non-adoption. TPAs and brokers, as front line experts for consumer directed healthcare, have the tools and knowledge to deliver greater HSA adoption … More >>
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), coupled with a high deductible health plan, were designed to help make healthcare more affordable and give people more freedom in their personal healthcare decisions. Another advantage of the account is the ability to use it in retirement. Due to generous tax advantages, friendly contribution options, and investment opportunities, more people … More >>