(HSA) Health Savings Accounts for all of Florida
including Brandon, Riverview, and Tampa
For the average business and consumer, health insurance is a major chunk of the budget. One way consumers and employers are trying to keep health insurance costs down is by offering or choosing a high-deductible health plan (HDHP)HP)H. These plans, as you might guess, come with high deductibles, but also more affordable premiums. Health savings accounts, or HSAs, are often offered in tandem with HDHPs.
HSA Basics
HSAs are essentially savings accounts used for medical expenses. You can use money from your HSA to pay eligible medical expenses, such as co-pays, prescription medicines, and other medical and dental care as determined by your HSA. Usually you’ll receive checks and/or a debit card from your HSA account to use to pay your medical expenses. Unfortunately, you usually can’t pay insurance premiums with HSA funds.
To be eligible for an HSA, you must be covered under a high-deductible health plan (for 2016, a high deductible health plan must have a minimum deductible of $1,300 for an individual, and $2,600 for a family). You won’t be eligible for an HSA if you are enrolled in Medicare, claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, or covered by other insurance.
Health insurance providers or your employer may offer HSA options along with a high-deductible health plan. If not, you can open your own HSA through a qualified financial institution.
Each year the IRS sets the maximum amount that can be paid into an HSA. For 2016, those limits are $3,350 for individuals, and $6,750 for families. Your employer can contribute to your HSA but the total contributions from you and your employer must still be within the contribution limits.
Benefits of HSAs
One of the major benefits of investing in an HSA is that you don’t pay taxes on the money you deposit into it, thus reducing your taxable income. You also don’t pay taxes on money you take out of your HSA as long as you use it for eligible medical expenses. You will be taxed (and penalized 20%) if you take it out for non-medical expenses before age 65. After age 65, if you take out money for non-medical expenses, you will be taxed, but not penalized.
You always own and control the money in your HSA. You decide how much to contribute. If you don’t spend it in one year, it rolls over to the next. If you change jobs or leave the job force, the money is still yours.
Some HSA companies allow you to invest your HSA funds, and the earnings from those investments are also not taxed.
Contributing to an HSA can be a smart way to save for future medical expenses. Contact L & M Insurance Group for more information about health insurance or health savings accounts.
