Health Benefit Solutions - HSA, FSA & More for Your Team (2024)

1Bank of America, N.A. makes available The HSA for Life® Health Savings Account as a custodian only. The HSA for Life is intended to qualify as a Health Savings Account (HSA) as set forth in Internal Revenue Code section 223. However, the account beneficiary establishing the HSA is solely responsible for ensuring satisfaction of eligibility requirements set forth in IRC sec 223. If an individual/employee establishes a HSA and s/he is not otherwise eligible, s/he will be subject to adverse tax consequences. In addition, an employer making contributions to the HSA of an ineligible individual may also be subject to tax consequences. We recommend that applicants and employers contact qualified tax or legal counsel before establishing a HSA.

The programs are sponsored and maintained solely by the employer offering the plan, or by an individual establishing an independent plan. Bank of America acts solely as claims administrator performing administrative tasks pursuant to an agreement with, and at the direction of, the sponsoring employer or individual under an independent plan. The sponsoring employer or individual under an independent plan is solely responsible for ensuring such arrangements comply with all applicable laws. Bank of America does not sponsor or maintain the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) / Health Reimbursem*nt Accounts (HRA) that you establish.

2HSA Account holders can receive federal income tax-free distributions from their HSA to pay or be reimbursed for qualified medical expenses they incur after they establish an HSA. If they receive distributions for other reasons, the amount withdrawn will be subject to income tax and may be subject to an additional 20% tax, unless an exception applies. Any interest or earnings on the assets in the account are federal income tax-free. Account holders may be able to claim a tax deduction for contributions they, or someone other than their employer, makes to their HSA directly (not through payroll deductions). In addition, HSA contributions may reduce state income taxes in certain states. Certain limits may apply to employees who are considered highly compensated key employees. Bank of America recommends you contact qualified tax or legal counsel before establishing an HSA.

3“Use it or lose it” refers to account portability and annual rollover of accumulated assets - it does not imply you cannot lose money. The investment portion of the HSA account is not FDIC insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value.

4The HSA debit card program is issued by Bank of America, N.A. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association, and is used by the issuer pursuant to license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.

5The app is populated with items that correspond to IRS Publication 502 and is updated periodically for legislative updates. However, there is no guarantee the list of items that constitute qualified medical expenses in the app is comprehensive of all products and accurately captures whether or not a product is a qualified medical expense for purpose of the tax code. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisor if you have any questions. Data connection required. Wireless carrier fees may apply. Mobile app not available on all devices.

6Mutual Fund investment offerings for the Bank of America HSA are made available by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S”), a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). Investments in mutual funds are held in an omnibus account at MLPF&S in the name of Bank of America, N.A., for the benefit of all HSA account owners. Recommendations as to HSA investment menu options are provided to Bank of America, N.A. by the Chief Investment Office (“CIO”), Global Wealth & Investment Management (“GWIM”), a division of BofA Corp. The CIO, which provides investment strategies, due diligence, portfolio construction guidance and wealth management solutions for GWIM clients, is part of the Investment Solutions Group (ISG) of GWIM. Investment products: | Are Not FDIC Insured | Are Not Bank Guaranteed | May Lose Value |

Neither Bank of America nor any of its affiliates provide legal, tax, accounting or benefits consulting advice. Please consult with your own attorney or tax advisor to understand the tax and legal consequences of your HSA, Health FSA and/or HRA plan or program offerings to your employees and your particular situation in your capacity as employer and/or plan administrator. This material should be regarded as general information on healthcare considerations and is not intended to provide specific healthcare advice. If you have questions regarding your particular healthcare situation, please contact your healthcare, legal or tax advisor.

Health Benefit Solutions - HSA, FSA & More for Your Team (2024)

FAQs

What does HSA FSA mean? ›

Health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) both let you set aside money before it's been taxed to pay for health care costs. Any withdrawals are also tax-free, provided you use them to cover qualified medical expenses.

How does an HSA work for employees? ›

Employees will never lose the money

Money in an HSA rolls over year after year. So, it's never “use it or lose it.” Likewise, the money follows the employee if they ever leave the company, it can be rolled over into a different account, and any interest earned on the funds is also non-taxable.

What is the downside of an HSA? ›

The main downside of an HSA is that you must have a high-deductible health insurance plan to get one.

What is the difference between a health care FSA and a health care HSA? ›

FSAs have a lower contribution limit compared to HSAs, which reduces employees' comparative tax savings. Unused funds generally may not be carried forward. FSAs are also managed by the employer and are subject to some of the limitations of fringe benefits programs.

Is it good to have both HSA and FSA? ›

An HSA is a smart tool for saving on eligible medical, dental and vision expenses. However, the IRS sets contribution limits on how much money you can set aside into these accounts. By pairing your HSA with a limited FSA or combination FSA, you put aside even more pre-tax dollars beyond what just an HSA allows.

What is the penalty for having HSA and FSA? ›

Penalty for making excess contributions

If you exceed contribution limits for an HSA or FSA, the excess amount will be subject to regular income tax. But that's not all. An excise tax of 6% will also apply to any amount that is over the contribution limit.

How much should I put in HSA per paycheck? ›

For example, some plans might match contributions up to 6% of your pay, so in this case, you'd want to contribute a minimum of 6%—you don't want to miss out on employer matching contributions. Next, contribute up to the maximum amount for your HSA, due to the triple tax advantages.

Can I use my HSA if I leave my job? ›

Many people have HSAs in conjunction with a job, but the HSA belongs entirely to the employee. If the person leaves their job, the HSA (and any money in it) goes with the employee. They are free to continue using the money for medical expenses and/or move it to another HSA custodian.

What is HSA on my paycheck? ›

A type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs.

Who shouldn't get an HSA? ›

HSAs might not make sense if you have some type of chronic medical condition. In that case, you're probably better served by traditional health plans. HSAs might also not be a good idea if you know you will be needing expensive medical care in the near future.

Do I ever lose my HSA money? ›

Myth #2: If I don't spend all my funds this year, I lose it. Reality: HSA funds never expire. When it comes to the HSA, there's no use-it-or-lose-it rule. Unlike Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds, you keep your HSA dollars forever, even if you change employers, health plans, or retire.

Is an HSA really worth it? ›

Is an HSA worth it? An HSA is worth it if you expect to have any health expenses, ever, an HSA allows you to pay them with pretax dollars. Since almost everyone eventually faces health expenses, using an HSA to pay for them with pretax dollars can help your money go further.

Is a health care FSA worth it? ›

Let's make one thing clear: If you have an FSA available to you, and you're pretty sure you'll use it for either health care or dependent care, it's a good deal. Using tax-free income for those expenses is more cost-effective for the individual than using taxed income.

Is it better to have health insurance or HSA? ›

The bottom line. A PPO is a type of health insurance plan, while an HSA is an account you use to save and invest money for healthcare. An HSA can be a smart way to save for health-related costs. The money stays with you and can help you pay for future medical expenses if you don't need the money in a given year.

What can I use my HSA for? ›

HSA - You can use your HSA to pay for eligible health care, dental, and vision expenses for yourself, your spouse, or eligible dependents (children, siblings, parents, and others who are considered an exemption under Section 152 of the tax code).

What does HSA FSA mean on DoorDash? ›

Where can I use my Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) benefits on DoorDash? HSA and FSA participants can use their benefits at select merchants offering HSA/FSA eligible health items on DoorDash. Eligible health items are marked as “HSA/FSA Eligible” within store pages on DoorDash.

How do I know if I have HSA or FSA? ›

FSAs are employer-sponsored plans, and HSAs are owned by you. Therefore, when you change employers, you can take the HSA with you, but any funds contributed to your FSA generally must be spent. You can open an HSA even if it isn't offered by your employer.

What can you use FSA money for? ›

You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums. You can spend FSA funds on prescription medications, as well as over-the-counter medicines with a doctor's prescription. Reimbursem*nts for insulin are allowed without a prescription.

References

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