Health savings accounts (HSA), its also known as tax-advantaged medical savings account which available to taxpayers in the United States America. Who are involved in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). At the time of deposit the funds contributed to the HSA are not subjected to federal income tax. Unlike a flexible spending account or FSA, funds roll over and accumulate year to year if not spent in given time. HSAs are owned by the individual ones, which differentiates them from the company-owned Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) which is an alternate tax-deductible source of funds paired with either standard health plans or HDHPs. HSA funds can be currently be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability or penalty.
How HAS work?
There is four major procedures which as follows.
• Deposit
• Contribution Limits
• Investments
• Withdrawals
• Contribution Limits
• Investments
• Withdrawals
Deposit:-Deposits to an HSA made by any policyholder of an HSA-eligible high-deductible healthplan or by their employer, or any other person. Just in case If an employer makes deposits to such a plan on behalf of its employees, non-discrimination rules still apply—it means all employees must be treated equally. However, if there contributions are made through follows a Section 125 plan, non-discrimination rules do not apply. Employers work may treat full-time and part-time employees differently, and employers may treat individual and family participants differently as well. (The treatment of employees who are not enrolled in a HSA-eligible high-deductible plan will not consider for non-discrimination purposes.) Also, employers from 2007 may contribute more for non-highly compensated employees than highly compensated employees.
Contribution Limits:-
Has-Maximum-contribution According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 969: In Health-Savings-Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, you can make contributions to your HSA for 2008 until April 15, 2009. The IRS is been released 2010 limits via Revenue Procedure (Rev Proc) 2009-29, and the 2011 limits were included in Revenue Procedure 2010-22.
Following are the contributions limits from year 2004-2011hsa limits.
Has-Maximum-contribution According to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 969: In Health-Savings-Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, you can make contributions to your HSA for 2008 until April 15, 2009. The IRS is been released 2010 limits via Revenue Procedure (Rev Proc) 2009-29, and the 2011 limits were included in Revenue Procedure 2010-22.
Following are the contributions limits from year 2004-2011hsa limits.
Year Contribution Limit Contribution Limit Catch-Up Contribution
For Single For Family (55 & +) (Single or Family)
2004 $2,600 $5,150 $500
2005 $2,650 $5,250 $600
2006 $2,700 $5,450 $700
2007 $2,850 $5,650 $800
2008 $2,900 $5,800 $900
2009 $3,000 $5,950 $1,000
2010 $3,050 $6,150 $1,000
2011 $3,050 $6,150 $1,000
Investments:-
Funds in HSA can be invested in a similar manner like investments in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Investment earnings amount are sheltered from taxation until the money is withdrawn, and can be sheltered even then, as discussed in the following section. While HSAs can be "rolled over" from fund to fund, an HSA cannot be rolled into an IRA or IRS) Publication 401(k), and funds from these such kind of investment vehicles cannot be rolled into an HSA, except for the one time IRA transfer allowed above. Unlike some employer contributions to a 401k plan, all HSA contributions belong to the participant immediately, regardless of the deposit source. A person contributing to an HSA is under no obligation to contribute to his/her employer-sponsored HSA, although employers may require that payroll contributions to be made only to the sponsored HSA plan.
Funds in HSA can be invested in a similar manner like investments in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Investment earnings amount are sheltered from taxation until the money is withdrawn, and can be sheltered even then, as discussed in the following section. While HSAs can be "rolled over" from fund to fund, an HSA cannot be rolled into an IRA or IRS) Publication 401(k), and funds from these such kind of investment vehicles cannot be rolled into an HSA, except for the one time IRA transfer allowed above. Unlike some employer contributions to a 401k plan, all HSA contributions belong to the participant immediately, regardless of the deposit source. A person contributing to an HSA is under no obligation to contribute to his/her employer-sponsored HSA, although employers may require that payroll contributions to be made only to the sponsored HSA plan.
Withdrawals:-
HSA participants didn’t have to obtain advance approval from their HSA trustee or from their medical insurer to withdraw funds, and the funds are not subject to income taxation if it is made for qualified medical expenses. These include costs for services and items covered by the health plan but subject to cost sharing such as a deductible & co-payments or coinsurance, as well as many other expenses not covered under medical plans, for example dental, vision and chiropractic care; durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses and hearing equipments; and transportation expenses related to medical care. Non-prescription, over-the-counter medications are also eligible.
HSA participants didn’t have to obtain advance approval from their HSA trustee or from their medical insurer to withdraw funds, and the funds are not subject to income taxation if it is made for qualified medical expenses. These include costs for services and items covered by the health plan but subject to cost sharing such as a deductible & co-payments or coinsurance, as well as many other expenses not covered under medical plans, for example dental, vision and chiropractic care; durable medical equipment such as eyeglasses and hearing equipments; and transportation expenses related to medical care. Non-prescription, over-the-counter medications are also eligible.




