Top 5 Reasons To Use A Health Savings Account (2024)

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Bank 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.

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The planning tools and information calculators are illustrative only, and accuracy is not guaranteed. They are intended to provide a comparative tool for various consumer health care options and potential costs and savings of those options. Bank of America and its affiliates are not tax or legal advisors. The calculators are not intended to offer any tax, legal or financial advice and do not assure the availability of or your eligibility for any specific product offered by Bank of America or its affiliates. Please consult with qualified professionals to discuss your situation. This site may contain links to third-party content, which may be articles, videos, or calculators, regarding health plans only as a convenience. Some articles, videos and calculators may have been written and produced by third parties not affiliated with Bank of America or any of its affiliates.

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If you have questions regarding your particular health care situation, please contact your health care, legal or tax advisor.

Please consult with your own attorney or tax advisor to understand the tax and legal consequences of establishing and maintaining a HSA, FSA, Dependent Care FSA, and/or HRA plan.

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Mutual 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 Corp. Investments in mutual funds are held in an omnibus account at MLPF&S in the name of Bank of America, N.A. (“BANA”), for the benefit of all HSA account owners. Recommendations as to HSA investment menu options are provided to BANA 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.

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Top 5 Reasons To Use A Health Savings Account (2024)

FAQs

What are 3 advantages of an HSA? ›

6 Benefits of choosing an HSA plan
  • Save on taxes. Your HSA contributions go into your account before taxes. ...
  • Save on your medical expenses. Use your HSA funds to pay coinsurance, copays and your deductible (all tax-free). ...
  • Your money works harder in an HSA. ...
  • You're in control. ...
  • An HSA is an investment. ...
  • Save for retirement.

Why would someone choose an HSA? ›

HSAs have tax advantages that result in many people using them as retirement plans, alongside their 401(k) or IRA accounts. Contributions to an HSA are made with pretax dollars. This means that you won't pay income tax on the money that you put directly into your HSA, and you'll save on income taxes for the year.

What is the main purpose of a health savings account? ›

What's a Health Savings Account? A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a type of personal savings account you can set up to pay certain health care costs. An HSA allows you to put money away and withdraw it tax free, as long as you use it for qualified medical expenses, like deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and more.

When should I use my HSA? ›

Save: Prepare for health care needs in the future

Your HSA can be used now, next year or even when you're retired. Saving in your HSA can help you plan for health expenses you anticipate in the coming years, such as laser eye surgery, braces for your child, or paying Medicare premiums.

What are 5 key features or tax benefits of a health savings account HSA )? ›

Key Takeaways
  • A health savings account is a tax-advantaged way to save money.
  • HSA contributions reduce taxable income, investment growth in the account is tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
  • Money left over at the end of the year in an HSA is not forfeited and can be rolled over from year to year.

Who benefits most from HSA? ›

High-income people get the biggest benefit.

They are less likely to need a tax break to pay for insurance or health care, yet they receive the largest tax break for each dollar put into an HSA because they are in the highest tax bracket.

What is the downside of an HSA? ›

HSA Cons. The big drawback of an HSA is that you have to sign up with a high deductible health plan to be eligible for one. It is difficult to forecast medical expenses accurately.

What are the pros and cons of an HSA? ›

Limitations with Non-HDHP Coverage
Pros of HSAsCons of HSAs
Flexibility and Control - Ownership stays with the individual. - Funds can be used for a broad range of healthcare costs.Complexity in Management - Requires detailed tracking of transactions and receipts. - IRS regulations can complicate expense tracking.
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Apr 19, 2024

What is the 12 month rule for HSA? ›

The last-month rule comes with an important catch, though. You must stay enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan for a one-year "testing period" running from December 1 of the year you contribute to December 31 of the next year.

Can HSA be used for dental? ›

HSAs can help pay for a variety of dental services and orthodontic procedures. Here are some of the specific dental procedures your HSA can help cover: Crowns (when non-cosmetic, and may need a letter of medical necessity (LMN)) Sealants (if used for the prevention or treatment of a dental disease)

Is an HSA 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.

What purchases are allowed with HSA? ›

What can you buy with your HSA?
  • Common or routine medical expenses. Copays for prescriptions and office visits. ...
  • COVID PPE supplies. ...
  • Menstrual products and OTC medications. ...
  • Family planning products. ...
  • Emergency medical expenses. ...
  • Mental health expenses. ...
  • Dental care. ...
  • Vision care.
Mar 4, 2024

What is a HSA for dummies? ›

Key Takeaways. A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account to help you save for medical expenses that are not reimbursed by high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). No tax is levied on contributions to an HSA, the HSA's earnings, or distributions used to pay for qualified medical expenses.

How to use HSA most effectively? ›

Contribute enough to cover your expected medical expenses—and then some. Aim to build the account to completely cover one or more years of maximum out-of-pocket costs. Only draw on the account for large or unusual medical expenses, not the routine ones.

How do I take advantage of my HSA account? ›

Top 10 ways to use an HSA
  1. #1 Get lower health plan premiums. ...
  2. #2 Reduce your annual tax bill. ...
  3. #3 Grab your employer HSA contribution. ...
  4. #4 Maximize your spending power. ...
  5. #5 Create a healthcare emergency safety net. ...
  6. #6 Invest your HSA in low-cost mutual funds. ...
  7. #7 Save for healthcare expenses in retirement.

What is a potential downside of HSA? ›

"Potential tax drawbacks: Prior to age 65, HSA funds withdrawn to pay for nonmedical expenses are considered taxable income. The IRS also levies a 20 percent penalty. Expenses can be audited by the IRS so you should keep receipts for all payments made with HSA funds.

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