HEALTH INSURANCE MATTERS
We invite employers to understand the healthcare landscape. Know the nuances of our different plans. And make confident health insurance decisions. Here’s the place to get smart about what coverage will work best for you and your employees.
If you’re an employer who offers a Blue KC Blue Saver® PPO health insurance plan with a Health Savings Account (HSA), this hub is for you. Check out our helpful resources, FAQs and links to HSA-related tax forms. For a healthier understanding of this unique savings vehicle.
What is an HSA?
- An HSA allows members enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan to use tax-free HSA funds to pay for qualified medical expenses as defined by the IRS.
- Members can have part of their pre-tax earnings deposited into an HSA.
- Members can also use savings or individual contributions to fund their HSAs.
- A member’s employer may also contribute funds to the account but contributions are optional.
- Members can rollover unused HSA funds at the end of each calendar year.
What are the benefits of an HSA?
- Contributions that members and an employer make to the HSA are tax-deductible.
- Earnings on a member’s HSA balance are not taxed, and funds withdrawn to pay for qualified medical expenses are not subject to income taxes or penalties.
- The HSA will remain in the member’s name and continue to earn interest, even if the member leaves or changes jobs
- To continue contributing to an HSA, a member must continue to be enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan.
- If your new employer or health insurance company does not offer a qualified high-deductible health plan, or a member chooses not to enroll in one, the member may still use the funds in their HSA for qualified medical expenses and earn interest, however the member won’t be able to contribute funds to the account.
How to open an HSA?
- To enroll in an HSA, a member must be covered under a qualified high-deductible health plan and cannot be covered by any other health plan that is not a qualified high-deductible health plan with some exceptions.
- Once a member has enrolled in a Blue Saver PPO health plan, they must choose a bank.
- A member must not receive any Medicare benefits and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return.
Resources
Forms
Tax-deductible Health Savings Account contributions must be reported on IRS Form 8889.
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