New HSAs Provide Help For High Medical Costs
Texas CPAs Answer Common Questions About Health Savings Accounts

DALLAS — Texans concerned about high medical costs have a new tool – the health savings account created by the 2003 Medicare Act. HSAs are tax-favored savings plans that can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO OPEN AN HSA?

Effective Jan. 1, 2004, anyone who is covered by a high-deductible health insurance policy and is not eligible for Medicare can open an HSA. To qualify, you cannot be claimed as a dependent by another person. A high-deductible plan is defined as one with an annual deductible of at least $1,000 for individual coverage and at least $2,000 for family coverage. The HSA coverage must be your only health insurance.

HOW DO HSAs WORK?

HSAs allow individuals and employers to make contributions each year that can be used to pay for qualified health expenses for you, your spouse, and dependents. The account may be established with a bank or health insurer and employees, employers, or both can contribute to the plan.

WHAT ARE THE TAX BENEFITS?

First, the money you contribute to an HSA is tax-deductible up to the amount of the policy deductible, even if you don’t itemize. Second, the interest and investment earnings are not taxable, so the money in your HSA grows tax-free.

HOW MUCH CAN I CONTRIBUTE TO AN HSA?

The annual deposit limit is equal to the amount of the health insurance deductible. HSA owners born before 1950 can contribute an additional $500. The tax write-off can’t exceed $2,600 for individuals and $5,150 for families. Contributions must be made in cash, not with stocks or property, and contributions can be made through April 15 for the previous tax year.

WHAT EXPENSES QUALIFY?

HSAs can be used to cover IRS-approved medical expenses not covered by insurance, including doctor visits, prescription drugs, over-the-counter remedies, and long-term care insurance. Funds can be used to pay for the health insurance deductible, Medicare premiums (but not supplemental Medicare benefits), COBRA benefits, and health insurance premiums you pay while you are unemployed.

To deter the use of HSAs for non-medical purposes, funds withdrawn before age 65 for non-medical purposes are subject to a 10 percent penalty, as well as taxes on the amount withdrawn. Taxpayers who are 65 are exempt from the penalty, but must pay taxes on amounts not used for medical purposes.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T USE THE FUNDS IN MY HSA BY YEAR-END?

Unlike flexible spending accounts (FSAs) that require employees to forfeit unused money at year-end, unused balances in an HSA can be carried over from year to year, accruing tax-free investment earnings.

WHAT IF I CHANGE JOBS?

HSA balances belong to the individual account holder. Should you change jobs, become unemployed, or retire, the account stays with you.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY IN MY HSA IF I DIE?

Upon death, any balance remaining in the HSA becomes the property of the named beneficiary. A surviving spouse who is a beneficiary can withdraw funds tax free for his or her own medical expenses.

HOW DOES AN HSA DIFFER FROM A MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT?

HSAs are more flexible and more individuals qualify for them. Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) required health insurance policies with much higher deductibles and were restricted to employees of small businesses with less than 50 employees and the self-employed. An individual with an existing MSA can either retain it or roll it over into a new HSA

If you’re unsure about whether an HSA is right for you, consult with a CPA.

ABOUT TSCPA

TSCPA (http://www.tscpa.org) is a nonprofit, voluntary, professional organization representing Texas CPAs. The society has 20 local chapters statewide and has 27,000 members, one of the largest in-state memberships of any state CPA society in the United States. TSCPA is committed to serving the public interest with programs that advance the highest standards of ethics and practice within the CPA profession.