It’s called consumer-driven because it puts you in the driver’s seat of your health and health care spending. With your checkups and preventive care likely covered at 100%, and tools to help you stay healthy and shop around for quality care at more reasonable costs - you might be able to cover all your costs with the money in your account.
It gives you the flexibility of a PPO - you can often go to doctors in and out of your network, though you’ll get better rates with in-network doctors. HSA plans tend to have lower monthly premiums than similar PPOs, and sometimes even HMOs.
It’s sometimes called a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) because you’re in more control of your care spending at first. With your checkups and preventive care likely covered at 100%, and tools to help you stay healthy and shop around for quality care at more reasonable costs - you might be able to cover all your costs with the money in your account.
If you still have money left in your account, it stays in there for next year and beyond. And you can also take it with you if you change health plans. View IRS rules on paying costs with money in your HSA.
Your employer puts money into your health incentive account (HIA) when you take certain steps to improve your health. You use that money to pay for your share of care costs, like your deductible or coinsurance. If you don’t use all the money, it stays in there next year as long as you’re still at the same job.
Yes. The three main types of FSAs are:
1. Health care FSA for qualified medical, dental, vision or other health care costs, including insurance deductibles, co-payments and co-insurance.
2. Dependent care FSA for child, elder or other dependent care.
3. Limited purpose FSA for qualified dental and vision care costs only when combined with a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
To be eligible for an FSA, your employer must offer it. You don’t have to participate in your employer’s health plan. You must elect to participate in the FSA during your employer's open enrollment.
For a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCA), you must have children under the age of 13 (if divorced, you must be the custodial parent) or you must claim an adult dependent on your tax return who’s physically or mentally unable to care for themselves.
Qualified individuals must meet one of the following criteria: children under the age of 13 or any adult you can claim as a dependent on your tax return who is physically or mentally unable to care for themselves.
For more information, view IRS Publication 503.
To qualify for a DCA, you must be the custodial parent, even if you don’t claim your child as a tax dependent.
For more information, view IRS Publication.
Typically anyone whose employer offers a DCA can participate. As a rule, your DCA can only cover expenses incurred during work hours. Ask your employer’s benefits team to verify eligibility.
For more information, view IRS Publication.
- Before and after school care programs
- Preschool or nursery school
- Extended day programs and summer day camp
- Babysitter (in or out of your home)
- Nanny and au pair services
- Daycare and eldercare facilities
- Educational expenses (summer school and tutoring)
- Tuition for kindergarten and above
- Overnight camp
- Field trip expenses and fees
- Housekeeping services
- Dependent care expenses incurred if your spouse doesn’t work, unless your spouse is a full-time student or is disabled
The work related expense test is the standard the Internal Revenue Service uses to determine if expenses are work related for a DCA. An expense isn’t considered work related just because you had it while you were working. Expenses are considered work related only if both of the following are true:
- They allow you (and your spouse if filing jointly) to work or look for work
- They’re for a qualifying person’s care
For more information, view IRS Publication 503.
Does the carryover amount limit my future year Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) election?
No.
Reimbursements can be requested when a qualified expense is incurred during the plan year and before the end of the FSA run-out period (or grace period if applicable).
A Consumer-Driven Health Plan (CDHP) is a high-deductible plan that also includes a tax-free Health Savings Account (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). Depending on your plan, you may put tax-free money into your account, or your employer might put money in, for example, as a reward for steps you’ve taken toward better health. Then, you use that money for your share of care costs, such as your deductible or coinsurance.
It’s called “consumer-driven” because it puts you in the driver’s seat of your health and health care spending. With your check-ups and preventive care likely covered at 100 percent by your plan, as well as tools to help you stay healthy and the ability to shop around for quality care at more reasonable costs, you might be able to use your CDHP to cover most if not all your health care costs.
Qualified medical expenses include medical, dental, vision and prescription expenses. Visit this website for more information:
qme.empireblue.com
Yes, FSA funds can be used for over-the-counter medicines without a prescription. Visit this website for more information:
qme.anthem.com/ny
