Retiree Health Savings Account
General Information
Need a Way to Plan and Pay for Your Healthcare?
A Health Savings Account, or HSA, is a tax-favored account owned by the retiree in which the retiree and TVA can make contributions to pay for qualified medical expenses. The retiree can use an HSA to pay for current expenses or to save for future qualified medical and retiree healthcare expenses.
To participate in an HSA, a person must be enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan. Since Consumer-Directed Health Plans (CDHP) are high-deductible health plans, TVA’s CDHP participants may be eligible for a Health Savings Account.
An HSA gives retirees more control over how and when they spend their healthcare resources. The basics of a Health Savings Account are included below.
HSA Basics
An HSA is like a bank account that lets you contribute tax-deductible dollars to be used for qualified medical expenses, such as deductibles, co-insurance, prescriptions, dental expenses, vision care, and more.
You own your HSA account. So you make such decisions as the following:
- Whether to contribute to the account
- How much to use for medical expenses
- Whether to pay for medical expenses from the account or save for future use
- What type of investment funds to select and more
The money in your HSA belongs to you for life − even if you change medical plans, change your marital status or move to another state.
Your funds roll over each year. No money is forfeited or lost. So, an HSA can be a valuable savings tool.
You get triple tax savings. Your HSA contributions are tax-deductible, you earn tax-free interest on the account, and your withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
You can use a debit card or checks to pay qualified medical expenses. See IRS Publication 502 at www.irs.gov for a list of qualified expenses.
Once the account is opened, TVA will make a contribution to the accounts of CDHP Participants as listed below:
- CDHP Gold - $600/individual or $1,200/family
- CDHP Silver - $450/individual or $900/family
In order to be eligible for an HSA, you must meet the following requirements:
- Must be covered under a qualified high-deductible health plan. This means you must be enrolled in the CDHP medical option to be eligible for the HSA.
- Must not also be covered under any other health plan that is not HSA-qualified, such as a spouse’s health insurance plan. (Click here for more information about this eligibility requirement.)
- Must not be enrolled in Medicare or Tricare.
- Must not be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
More Information
For more information about HSAs, retirees can visit hsabank.com/tva or email [email protected]. You can also call the HSA Bank at 844-650-8934.
Make Your Own Healthcare Decisions
A Health Savings Account is available to Consumer-Directed Health Plan members.
When making decisions about healthcare, no two people are exactly alike. With an HSA, the retiree has control and flexibility when it comes to making decisions about healthcare expenses.
An HSA is a special tax-advantaged account that puts the retiree in control over how his or her healthcare dollars are spent. The accounts are individually owned, so the retiree chooses when to use the HSA and how to invest the HSA funds. The retiree also chooses whether to use funds now to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses or pay for current expenses with after-tax dollars and save the money in the HSA for retirement or future medical costs.
Either way, the money is the retiree’s (i.e., the account owner's) − and the retiree makes the decisions.
The following three important tax benefits are associated with an HSA:
- HSA contributions are 100 percent tax-deductible, reducing total taxable income.
- Investment earnings on HSA funds are tax-free, making the HSA a valuable savings vehicle.
- Funds can be withdrawn tax-free at any time to pay for qualified medical expenses incurred by the retiree, his or her spouse, or dependents.
After age 65, HSA funds can be withdrawn penalty-free to pay for non-medical expenses, and only regular income tax on the amount withdrawn is applied.
Contributing to an HSA
The HSA is serviced by HSA Bank, a division of Webster Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. TVA will make contributions to each eligible retiree’s HSA once the account has been opened and is ready to accept deposits.
The retiree decides whether or not to contribute to the HSA. Retirees can make tax-deductible contributions to their HSA by:
- mailing contributions using deposit slips from their HSA checkbook or contribution form on the back of their quarterly statement or
- automatically transferring contributions from a personal checking or savings account through HSA Bank’s internet banking site.
Retirees can receive a tax deduction for post-tax contributions on their annual income tax return. Provided all eligibility requirements are met, retirees can begin making contributions to their HSA as soon as the account is established or opened.
Annual contribution limits are mandated by the Internal Revenue Service and are adjusted annually for inflation. In 2025, contribution limits (from all sources) are $4,300 for individuals with individual coverage and $8,550 for individuals with family coverage. Individuals age 55 and older who open an HSA can also make an additional “catch-up” contribution. The catch-up contribution can be up to $1,000. Catch-up contributions may only be made for eligible account holders, not dependents.
Retirees can continue to use the funds in their HSA for qualified medical expenses even if they discontinue enrollment in the CDHP in the future. However, since enrollment in a high-deductible plan is required in order to contribute to an HSA, retirees can no longer make contributions to their HSA when not enrolled in the CDHP.
Earning Money on Your HSA Funds
Money in the HSA earns tax-free interest daily. The interest rates can be found on HSA Bank’s website. (Rates and yields are subject to change.)
In addition, HSA Bank offers non-FDIC-insured investment options for individuals who wish to invest their HSA funds. The HSA Invest option provides account holders access to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Trades can be made online or by phone. Appropriate fees will be applied to eligible transactions.
HSA Bank provides unique opportunities to invest Health Savings Account (HSA) funds. HSA Invest offers three investment options: Choice, Select and Managed. These options give you thoughtfully chosen securities that are aligned to your HSA and relevant to your financial objectives. And you’re able to enroll in more than one option.
- Choice: This option offers a simplified brokerage experience with a large range of stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and more. This option is ideal if you’re an experienced investor who may not need guidance from a professional.
- Select: Get a recommended list of mutual funds, specific to your unique risk tolerance and investment objectives. All funds are selected by an SEC-registered investment advisor (RIA), organized by asset class, and aligned to your investment profile. This option gives you guidance and the opportunity to make the financial decision about your investments and allocations.
- Managed (coming soon): Get an even higher level of personalization, where the RIA actively manages the investments on your behalf. This option lets you go beyond the tailored guidance in the Select option and have your investments completely managed by an RIA.
Learn how by visiting the HSA Bank investment resource page at hsabank.com/investments or the TVA Employee Resource Center.
How It Works
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is available to Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) members.
HSAs are tax-advantaged accounts that can help retirees save and pay for current or future medical expenses. HSAs also give greater flexibility and control by putting the retiree in charge of how his or her healthcare dollars are spent.
How to Use the HSA
Retirees choose whether or not to contribute to the HSA.
TVA will make an employer contribution to the HSA for a retiree with an individual contract under either of the CDHP plans, $600 for the Gold plan and $450 for the Silver plan. For a retiree with a family contract under the CDHP plans, TVA places $1,200 for the Gold plan and $900 for the Silver plan into the account. Retirees must have opened their accounts in order for their TVA contribution to be deposited.
It’s easy for retirees to use the money in their HSA. Once retirees have opened their accounts, an HSA Bank VISA debit card will be issued to them. Checks are also available for a fee. Retirees just pay for qualified expenses directly by using one of these methods or withdrawing money directly from an ATM.
Retirees can use their HSA money to pay for any “qualified medical expense” permitted under federal tax law that is incurred after the HSA is opened. The money can be used to pay for medical expenses for the retiree, his or her spouse, and dependent children. This can occur even if the spouse or children are not covered by the CDHP.
It is the retiree’s decision whether or not to use his or her HSA to pay for current medical expenses, including the CDHP deductible, or save for future expenses such as medical services, Medicare premiums, or long-term care insurance.
Qualified Medical Expenses
In order to be considered qualified, the medical expense must be utilized primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness. This would include office visits, hospitalization, or prescription drugs.
Qualified medical expenses are defined in section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a list of qualified expenses is available in Publication 502, “Medical and Dental Expenses,” available from the IRS website at irs.gov.
The retiree, as the “account owner,” is responsible for documenting how he or she uses his or her HSA. It is very important to understand what the allowable expenses are and be able to support claims with receipts. There is no deadline for paying for an expense from the HSA.
But no matter how old the expense is, the account owner has to be prepared to document it fully if requested by the IRS in the year it is claimed.
HSA funds cannot be used to pay for expenses incurred before the account was established or opened.
Retirees are required to pay taxes on this money, and they face a 20 percent tax penalty if they use any HSA money for purposes other than to pay for “qualified medical expenses.”
After age 65, the 20 percent additional tax penalty no longer applies.
Each year, retirees will receive a 1099-SA and a 5498-SA statement to assist with income-tax filling.
How To Enroll and Contribute
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is available to CDHP health plan members.
An HSA is an individually owned, tax-advantaged account that puts the retiree in control over how his or her healthcare dollars are spent.
How to Enroll
The annual Retiree Medical Plan Election Period is typically held in October / November.
Retirees who enroll in the CDHP will be provided the opportunity to open an HSA. There are two options available for retirees to enroll in the HSA.
- A retiree can open their HSA by going to:
secure.hsabank.com/tvaenroll/tva.aspx and completing the Online Enrollment process.
- A retiree can complete the HSA Bank Application Form[AL1]. This form will also be included with a retiree’s medical plan election packet. Once a retiree has completed this form, it can be mailed to the address shown on the form or faxed to HSA Bank at 877-851-7041.
Retirees that complete their HSA enrollment prior to December 15 will be sent a Welcome Kit containing important information about their account, including how to designate authorized signers and beneficiaries in late December.
For security purposes, the retiree’s HSA Bank VISA® Debit Card will arrive in a separate package within five to 10 business days after receipt of the Welcome Kit, with tips on how to get started using the card to pay for qualified medical expenses.
If HSA enrollment is completed after December 15, the retiree can expect to receive debit cards and welcome kits within 7-10 business days.
Retirees will have no monthly administration fees deducted from their HSA Other fees, such as those for checks and account closing, will be highlighted in the Welcome Kit to be received upon enrolling in the HSA.
How to Contribute
Retirees decide whether or not to contribute to their HSA. Retirees can contribute to their HSA by:
- Mailing contributions using deposit slips from their HSA checkbook or contribution form on the back of their quarterly statement
- Automatically transferring contributions from a personal checking or savings account through HSA Bank’s Internet banking site.
Retirees can receive a tax deduction for post-tax contributions on their annual income tax return.
Retirees that discontinue their enrollment in the CDHP in the future can continue to use the funds in their HSA for qualified medical expenses but can no longer contribute to the account.
Retiree Responsibilities
It is important for retirees to remember they own their HSA.
It is the retiree’s (i.e., account owner’s) responsibility to understand how an HSA works and the associated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations − that is, eligibility requirements, contribution limits, qualified medical expenses, etc.
HSA account owners will receive quarterly statements from HSA Bank, similar to a regular checking account showing the average balance, closing balance, and any debits or credits to the account. Account owners also will have online account access.
Each year a 1099-SA and a 5498-SA statement are issued to assist with income-tax filling.
It is important for retirees to keep copies of medical receipts to verify how they use their HSA funds. An HSA account owner is responsible to the IRS for all types of withdrawals made from their HSA and will be required to pay taxes on and will face a 20-percent tax penalty (if the money is spent before age 65) if any HSA money is used for purposes other than to pay for qualified medical expenses.
Health Savings Account Basics
What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?
An HSA is a trust or custodial account established exclusively to receive tax-favored contributions on behalf of eligible individuals enrolled in an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHPs). TVA's Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) meets the IRS requirements of an HDHP.
Amounts contributed to an HSA accumulate on a tax-free basis, and withdrawals are not subject to tax if they are used to pay for eligible medical expenses for you and your dependents. Contributions made in one year and not used to pay expenses in that year will roll over and may be used to pay medical expenses in later years.
An HSA is fully vested at all times and portable, meaning that it can move with you as your circumstances change. Once you reach age 65, you may use the HSA funds to pay for most retiree medical insurance or other medical expenses on a tax-free basis or may take a distribution for any other reason and pay only ordinary income tax.
Who can have an HSA (i.e., make or receive HSA contributions)?
You must meet the following requirements:
- Must be covered by an HSA-qualified HDHP. This means you must be enrolled in the CDHP medical option to be eligible for the HSA.
- Cannot be enrolled in Medicare
- Cannot be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return
- Cannot be covered by another health plan that is not HSA-qualified (with some exceptions, including vision coverage, dental coverage, accident and disability coverage, and employee assistance programs)
One of the eligibility requirements to make or receive contributions to an HSA is the individual cannot be covered under any other health plan that is not HSA-qualified. Please provide examples.
The following provides some scenarios of this eligibility provision.
Scenario (Assumes all other eligibility requirements are met) | Eligible to make or receive contributions to an HSA |
---|---|
You are enrolled in the CDHP plan only. | Yes |
You are enrolled in the 80 percent or Copayment PPO plan. | No |
You are enrolled in the CDHP plan and Medicare. | No |
You are enrolled in the CDHP plan, and your spouse is also enrolled in an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan through his/her employer. | Yes |
You have family CDHP coverage, and your spouse has non-high deductible health plan coverage* for him/her and the children (i.e., you are not covered under your spouse's plan). | Yes |
You have family CDHP coverage, and your spouse has non-high deductible health plan coverage* and a general purpose health care flexible spending account (FSA) or health reimbursement account (HRA). This is regardless of whether or not you are covered under your spouse's medical plan. | No |
You have family CDHP coverage, and your spouse has family non-high deductible health plan coverage*, which covers you. | No |
*Non-high deductible health plan coverage is a health plan that does not meet the IRS requirements for a high deductible health plan, such as a traditional copay plan, TRICARE, etc.)
There are also certain exceptions that allow an individual to have ‘permitted insurance' and still meet this eligibility requirement. Permitted insurance is insurance under which substantially all of the coverage provided relates to liabilities incurred under workers' compensation laws, tort liabilities, liabilities relating to ownership or use of property, insurance for a specified disease or illness, and insurance that pays a fixed amount per day of hospitalization. Also, an individual does not fail to be eligible for an HSA merely because they have coverage for accidents, disability, dental care, vision care or long-term care.
Refer to Section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code for eligibility requirement details.
If my spouse and I both have HDHP medical coverage, how much can each of us contribute to an HSA?
If each spouse has separate coverage under a self-only HDHP, each spouse may contribute the maximum annual contribution into an HSA in his/her own name. If both spouses are covered under a family HDHP, they may contribute a the HSA family plan maximum. If both spouses are over the age of 55 and both have HSAs in their own name, both spouses may also make the full “catch-up” contribution ($1,000) in addition to the maximum.
If I am covered under the CDHP as well as my spouse's plan, am I eligible for an HSA?
Only if your spouse's plan is an HSA-qualified HDHP. In order to be eligible for an HSA, you cannot also be covered under a spouse's plan that is not HSA-qualified.
If I meet the HSA eligibility requirements under Section 223(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code and am also eligible for medical benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), may I contribute to an HSA?
An otherwise eligible individual who is eligible to receive VA medical benefits but who has not actually received such benefits during the preceding three months is an eligible individual under Section 223(c)(1). An individual is not eligible to make HSA contributions for any month, however, if the individual has received medical benefits from the VA at any time during the previous three months.
What are the benefits of an HSA?
- Portability – An HSA is owned by you. HSA funds belong to you for life – even if you switch jobs, change insurance plans, or retire.
- Savings – You can save the money in your HSA for future medical expenses and grow your account through investment earnings. Unused money rolls over year-to-year, earning interest tax-free. There is no “use it or lose it” rule.
- Tax Savings – Triple-tax savings: tax-deductible or pre-tax contributions; tax-free earnings on investments; and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses.
- Flexibility – You can use the money in your HSA to pay for current medical expenses, including expenses that your medical plan may not cover. For example, you can withdraw money tax-free to pay for deductibles, coinsurance, contact lenses, prescription medicines, vision care, and dental treatment. Or save the money for future needs, such as medical expenses after retirement (before Medicare), out-of-pocket expenses when covered by Medicare, long-term care expenses, etc.
- Choice and Control – You make all the decisions about:
- Whether or not you want to make contributions to the HSA (up to the maximum allowed annual contribution)
- Whether to save the money for future expenses or pay current medical expenses
- Whether to invest any of the money and which investments to select
With HSA Bank, you always have access to your HSA funds with a debit card, check or via the internet banking system.
Who is the trustee or custodian of my HSA?
An HSA takes the form of a tax-exempt trust or custodial account. An HSA trustee or custodian holds your balances for you, receives and records contributions, and processes distributions.
Your HSA will be serviced by HSA Bank. TVA contributions to your HSA will be made to HSA Bank. If you wish, you have the option to move your funds to another trustee of your choice, but the HSA Bank account must remain open in order to receive TVA's annual contributions.
How do I open my HSA?
Employees: You will open your HSA through TVA’s online Open Enrollment site available through eBenefits on InsideNet. Under Self-Service Solutions, click Benefits, then eBenefits, then Open Enrollment.
In late December, you will be sent a Welcome Kit containing important information about your account, including how to designate authorized signers and beneficiaries. For security purposes, your HSA Bank VISA® Debit Card will arrive in a separate package within five to ten business days after you receive your Welcome Kit with tips on how to get started using your card to pay for qualified medical expenses.
Retirees: There are two options available for you to enroll in the HSA.
- You can open your HSA by going to:
secure.hsabank.com/tvaenroll/tva.aspx and completing the Online Enrollment process. - Included with your medical plan election packet, you will find an HSA Bank Application Form to complete. Once you have completed this form, you can mail it to the address on the front page of the form or fax it to HSA Bank at 877-851-7041.
If you complete your HSA enrollment prior to December 15, you will be sent a Welcome Kit containing important information about your account, including how to designate authorized signers and beneficiaries in late December. For security purposes, your HSA Bank VISA® Debit Card will arrive in a separate package within five to ten business days after you receive your Welcome Kit with tips on how to get started using your card to pay for qualified medical expenses. If your enrollment is completed after December 15, you can expect to receive your debit cards and welcome kits within 7-10 business days. Retirees who had an account as active employees must open a new account as a retiree. Any remaining funds can be transferred at your request.
Contributing to your Health Savings Account
How can I contribute to my HSA?
You can contribute to your HSA by:
- Mailing contributions using deposit slips from your HSA checkbook or contribution form on the back of your quarterly statement.
- Automatically transferring contributions from a personal checking or savings account through HSA Bank’s internet banking site.
You can receive a tax deduction for post-tax contributions on your annual income tax return.
If you discontinue your enrollment in the CDHP in the future, you can continue to use the funds in your HSA for qualified medical expenses but can no longer contribute to the account.
How much can I contribute to my HSA?
TVA will make contributions to accounts as listed below:
- CDHP Gold: $600/individual or $1,200/family
- CDHP Silver: $450/individual or $900/family
You decide whether or not you want to make additional contributions to your HSA.
The maximum HSA contribution from all sources (which includes TVA's contribution) for 2025 is $4,300/individual and $8,550/family. If you are age 55 or older, you can also make additional “catch-up” contributions. The maximum annual catch-up contribution is $1,000. These amounts are mandated by the IRS
- Both my spouse and I are over the age of 55, can we both contribute the catch-up contribution to my HSA?
- As long as you are both only covered by the CDHP, you are both able to contribute. However, if your spouse wishes to make a catch-up contribution, he/she would need to do so in an account established in his/her own name (i.e., your spouse may not put his/her catch-up contribution into your account).
How much should I contribute to my HSA?
Since HSA contributions reduce your taxable income, and since the funds roll over from year-to-year, you can benefit from making the full annual contribution to your HSA. However, you are in control of your HSA contributions, so you can choose how much to contribute (up to the maximum allowed annual contribution) as your circumstances dictate.
Will HSA Bank notify me if I exceed my allowable contribution amount?
HSA Bank’s website will allow you to elect to receive notifications via email that will notify you when you are getting close to your maximum contribution for the year.
Please keep in mind that this is your account, and you have certain responsibilities under the law. It is solely your responsibility to keep track of the contributions deposited into your account. Excess contributions are subject to an excise tax.
How do I correct overcontributing to my HSA?
You have until the time you file your tax return or April 15, whichever comes first, to remove excess contributions from your account. If the excess contribution is not removed from your account, you will be subject to a 6% penalty and income tax on that amount. The account holder will need to complete an Excess Contribution Removal form and return it to HSA Bank to have the funds removed. This form can be located in the forms section of the HSA Bank website.
Health Savings Account Questions and Answers
How can I use my HSA?
It's easy to use the money in your HSA. Once your account is open, you will be sent an HSA Bank VISA ® debit card. Checks are also available for a fee. You just pay for qualified expenses directly using one of these methods. Be sure to keep your receipts.
You can use your HSA money to pay for any “qualified medical expense” permitted under federal tax law that you incur after your HSA is established. You can use the money to pay for medical expenses for yourself, your spouse, and your dependent children. You can pay for the expenses of your spouse and dependent children even if they are not covered by the CDHP.
Any HSA money used for purposes other than to pay for “qualified medical expenses” is taxable as income and subject to an additional 20% tax penalty. After you turn age 65, the 20% additional tax penalty no longer applies.
What is a qualified medical expense?
In order to be considered qualified, the expense has to be primarily for the prevention or alleviation of a physical or mental defect or illness. This would include office visits, hospitalization, or prescription drugs.
Qualified medical expenses are defined in section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a list of qualified expenses is available on the IRS website, irs.gov, Publication 502, "Medical and Dental Expenses."
The following is a partial list of items that are considered qualified medical expenses for HSA reimbursement. This list is not complete and should serve only as a reference.
- Alcoholism treatment
- Ambulance
- Artificial limb
- Artificial teeth
- Chiropractors
- Crutches
- Dental treatment
- Dermatologist
- Drug addiction treatment (inpatient)
- Eyeglasses
- Guide dog
- Gynecologist
- Hearing aids
- Hospital services
- Laboratory fees
- Lead-base paint removal
- Life-care fees
- Lodging for outpatient treatment
- Nursing care
- Obstetrician
- Operating room costs
- Ophthalmologist
- Optician
- Organ transplant (including donor's expenses)
- Orthopedic shoes
- Orthopedist
- Osteopath
- Oxygen and equipment
- Pediatrician
- Phone/TV (hearing impaired)
- Physician
- Podiatrist
- Post-natal treatments
- Prenatal care
- Prescription medicines
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist
- Radium treatment
- Specialists
- Spinal tests
- Splints
- Sterilization
- Surgeon
- Therapy
- Vaccines
- Vasectomy
- Vision
- Vitamins (prescribed)
- Wheelchair
- X-rays
Do my HSA funds earn interest?
The money in your HSA earns tax-free interest daily. Rates and yields are subject to change.
Can I use my HSA to pay for medical expenses incurred before I established my HSA?
No. You cannot use funds in your HSA to pay for expenses you incurred before your account was established or opened.
What happens if I accidentally use my HSA funds for a non-qualified expense?
If funds in the account are not used for qualified medical expenses, you will need to claim the amount as income on your tax return. That amount will be subject to a 20% penalty if you are under the age 65. However, you can avoid taxes and potential penalties if the funds are repaid by April 15th of the year following the year in which you paid for the non-qualified expense(s).
What happens to the money in an HSA after I turn age 65?
You can continue to use your account tax-free for out-of-pocket health expenses. When you enroll in Medicare, you can use your account to pay Medicare premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance under any part of Medicare. If you have retiree health benefits through your former employer, you can also use your account to pay for your share of retiree medical insurance premiums. (Please note that the premium for TVA's Supplement to Medicare cannot be automatically taken from your HSA. Instead, you would have to reimburse yourself from your HSA for any TVA Supplement to Medicare premiums you pay.) The one expense you cannot use your account for is to purchase a Medicare supplemental insurance or “Medigap” policy.
Once you turn age 65, you can also use your account to pay for things other than qualified medical expenses. If used for non-qualified expenses, the amount withdrawn will be taxable as income but will not be subject to any other penalties. Individuals under age 65 who use their accounts for non-medical expenses must pay income tax and a 20% penalty on the amount withdrawn.
Investing your Health Savings Account funds
Will I have a choice in how funds in my HSA are invested?
Yes. Your HSA funds earn interest, and your cash account is FDIC insured. In addition, HSA Bank offers non-FDIC-insured investment options for individuals who wish to invest their HSA funds. The HSA Bank Invest option provides account holders access to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Trades can be made online or by phone. You can track your investments through online access and quarterly statements. Online access also allows you to get quotes, make trades and fully manage your investments. Applicable fees apply.
Investment accounts are not FDIC insured, may lose value, and are not a deposit or other obligation of or guarantee by the bank.
Replacement of investment losses is subject to the annual contribution limits of the HSA.
When can I begin to invest funds from my HSA?
You can begin making investments once you have opened both your HSA and a brokerage account and the initial contribution has been made to the bank account. There is a $1,000 minimum balance requirement to participate in the investment options.. However, remember to keep enough in the HSA to cover your medical expenses. Funds are easily moved back to your HSA account should you need to use them. Funds in investments are not available for use via the HSA Bank Visa debit card.
A Health Savings Account and Your Medical Plan
What is a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)?
An HDHP is a health plan with a deductible amount that qualifies you to open an HSA. To participate in an HSA, you must be enrolled in an HDHP. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases requirements for HDHP deductibles, HDHP maximum out-of-pocket spending amounts, and annual HSA contribution limits. The amounts are adjusted annually for inflation.
If I pay for expenses out of my HSA that are not covered by the CDHP, does it count toward the CDHP deductible or out-of-pocket maximum?
No. Only charges for services covered by the plan can be applied toward the deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.
Is there an issue if I have a health care flexible spending and have not used all my contributions by December 31?
The IRS does have special contribution rules that apply in this case. Further information can be obtained from the IRS at irs.gov. In particular, reference should be made to Revenue Ruling 2004-45.
General Information
What happens to my HSA if I am no longer enrolled in the CDHP?
You can continue to use the funds in your HSA for qualified medical expenses. You may not contribute to the account if you are not enrolled in the CDHP.
Are there any fees associated with my HSA account?
Fees, such as those for account closing and ordering checks will be highlighted in the Welcome Kit to be received upon enrolling in the HSA and are charged directly to the account.
Who is responsible for tracking expenses paid from my HSA?
HSA Bank tracks the total dollar amount spent from your HSA and provides that information to both you and the IRS. You will receive a quarterly statement similar to a regular checking account showing the average balance, closing balance, and any debits or credits to the account. You also have online access to your account via HSA Bank’s internet banking system and can elect to receive monthly electronic statements from the internet banking system. Each year you will receive a 1099-SA and a 5498-SA statement to assist you with income tax filing. Keep copies of your medical receipts to verify how you use your funds. You are responsible to the IRS for all types of withdrawals made from your HSA.
Why is it important to keep my receipts?
You are responsible for documenting how you use your HSA. You can use your HSA money to pay for any “qualified medical expense” permitted under federal tax law that you incur after you open your HSA. HSA Bank reports HSA distributions to the IRS.
Qualified medical expenses are defined in section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, and a list of qualified expenses is available on the IRS website, irs.gov, Publication 502.
You need to understand what the allowable expenses are and be able to back up your claims with receipts. You can wait as long as you want after the expense is incurred to submit it to your HSA. However, no matter how old the expense is, you have to be prepared to document it fully in the year you claim it.
You are required to pay taxes on and face a 20% tax penalty (before you turn age 65) if you use any HSA money for purposes other than to pay for “qualified medical expenses”.
What happens to my HSA if I die?
If your spouse is the designated beneficiary of your HSA, your spouse may open an HSA in their name and move the funds to their account and continue to use them for qualified expenses. If you are not married, the account will no longer be treated as an HSA upon your death. The account will pass to your beneficiary or become part of your estate (and be subject to any applicable taxes). You can designate a beneficiary for your HSA through HSA Bank by visiting hsabank.com/tva and clicking on Online Forms, and downloading the Designation of Beneficiary form.
Where can I get more information about HSAs?
For more information about HSAs, retirees can visit hsabank.com/tva or email [email protected]. You can also call the HSA Bank at 844-650-8934 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.