Can I have a health savings account with Medicare?

Asked by: Gail Miller DVM  |  Last update: July 5, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (1 votes)

Can You Have a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Medicare? Once you enroll in Medicare, you're no longer eligible to contribute funds to an HSA. However, you can use existing money in an HSA to pay for some Medicare costs. You'll receive a tax penalty on any money you contribute to an HSA once you enroll in Medicare.

Can I open an HSA if I am on Medicare?

Medicare doesn't offer an HSA qualifying option. You can't make contributions to your HSA for any months after you enroll in any part of Medicare, even if you're also covered on an HSA qualifying plan.

Can I have a savings account while on Medicare?

You can't put money in a health savings account once you're on Medicare.

Can you contribute to a health savings account after age 65?

Can I contribute to my HSA if I am age 65 and covered under an HDHP? Yes, you can contribute to your HSA as long as you are an eligible individual and have not enrolled in Medicare Part A, B, or D. Once you enroll in Medicare you may no longer contribute to your HSA.

What is the penalty for having an HSA and Medicare?

If you continue to contribute, or your Medicare coverage becomes retroactive, you may have to pay a 6% excise tax on those excess contributions. If you happen to have excess contributions, you can withdraw some or all to avoid paying the excise tax.

Learn What Happens to Your HSA with Medicare

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Can you collect Social Security and have an HSA?

If you have applied for or are receiving Social Security benefits, which automatically entitle you to Part A, you cannot continue to contribute to your HSA.

Can a retired person have a health savings account?

You sure can. Even though you can't contribute to an HSA after you sign up for Medicare, you can keep the account and use the money tax-free for medical expenses. In fact, you can use the money in the HSA for anything after age 65, although you will owe taxes on any withdrawals you make for nonmedical expenses.

When should I stop contributing to my HSA before Medicare?

There is a six-month lookback period (but not before the month of reaching age 65) when enrolling in Medicare after age 65, so a best practice is for workers to stop contributing to their HSA six months before enrolling in Medicare to avoid penalties.

Can my spouse contribute to an HSA if I am on Medicare?

Your spouse on Medicare is not eligible to contribute to an HSA in his or her name, regardless of whether he or she is covered on your medical plan.

Why can't Medicare recipients have an HSA?

If you enroll in Medicare Part A and/or B, you can no longer contribute pre-tax dollars to your HSA. This is because to contribute pre-tax dollars to an HSA you cannot have any health insurance other than an HDHP.

Can Medicare B pay for HSA?

After you turn 65, you can use HSA money tax-free to pay premiums for Medicare parts B and D and Medicare Advantage plans (but not premiums for Medicare supplement policies), in addition to paying for other out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Who is not eligible for an HSA?

Must be 18 years of age or older. Must be covered under a qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP) on the first day of a certain month. May not be covered under any health plan that is not a qualified HDHP.

Can I have an HSA without insurance?

HSAs let you set aside pre-tax income to cover healthcare costs that your insurance doesn't pay. You can only open and contribute to an HSA if you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan.

Is Medicare free at age 65?

You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if: You are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

Do HSA contributions reduce Social Security benefits?

Unlike most personal-finance situations, with an HSA it may be better not to shop around. There's a major benefit to sticking with your employer's plan: If your employer offers an HSA through a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, your contributions will avoid FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes of 7.65%—a big benefit.

Can you contribute to an HSA after age 70?

If you are not enrolled in Medicare and are otherwise HSA eligible, you can continue to contribute to an HSA after age 65. You are also allowed to contribute the $1,000 catch-up.

Are HSAs worth it?

HSAs have more tax advantages than 401(k) accounts. If you contribute by paycheck deduction, those funds are pretax. Your employer, a relative or anyone else can contribute, and those funds also are tax-free. Withdrawals aren't taxable as long as the money is used to pay for qualifying health-care expenses.

How much money should I put in my HSA each paycheck?

How much should I contribute to my health savings account (HSA) each month? The short answer: As much as you're able to (within IRS contribution limits), if that's financially viable.

Who offers the best HSA account?

The 6 Best Health Savings Account (HSA) Providers of 2022
  • Best Overall: HealthEquity.
  • Best for No Fees: Lively.
  • Best for Families: The HSA Authority.
  • Best for No Minimum Balance Requirement: HSA Bank.
  • Best Investment Options: Fidelity.
  • Best for Employers: Further.

Can anyone open a health savings account?

Yes. The HSA belongs to the individual not the employer and any eligible individual may open an HSA. As long as you are covered under a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) you may open and contribute to an HSA.

How do I know if I qualify for HSA?

If you're not sure if your health insurance makes you eligible for an HSA, read the policy for coverage details or contact your insurance company. If the insurer can't confirm that your plan is HSA-eligible, assume that it isn't.

Can I open HSA account anytime?

Luckily, as long as you're enrolled in an HSA-qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP), it's never too late to open your HSA. In fact, you can open an HSA anytime (as long as you have eligible HDHP coverage).

What is the new HSA limit for 2021?

The annual limit on HSA contributions will be $3,600 for self-only and $7,200 for family coverage. That's about a 1.5 percent increase from this year.

Can I transfer money from my HSA to my bank account?

Online Transfer – On HSA Bank's Member Website, you can transfer funds from your HSA to an external bank account, such as a personal checking or savings account. There is a daily transfer limit of $2,500 to safeguard against fraudulent activity.

How do I open up an HSA account?

If you are eligible for an HSA, it's easy to apply. With HSA Bank there are no set up fees and an initial deposit is not required to open an account. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete the online application. One note, to open an account, you must have a valid email address.