What is the tax penalty for having an HSA and Medicare?

Asked by: Raven Brown  |  Last update: July 17, 2023
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Your contributions after you're enrolled in Medicare might be considered “excess” by the IRS. Excess contributions will be taxed an additional 6 percent when you withdraw them. You'll pay back taxes plus an additional 10 percent tax if you enroll in Medicare during your HSA testing period.

What happens if I have Medicare and contribute to 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.

Do you have to stop HSA contributions 6 months 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 I contribute to an HSA the year I start Medicare?

6. Can I continue to contribute to my HSA once I'm enrolled in Medicare? No. You lose HSA eligibility once you enroll in Medicare, so you can't make additional contributions.

Do you have to pay taxes on HSA after 65?

At age 65, you can withdraw your HSA funds for non-qualified expenses at any time although they are subject to regular income tax. You can avoid paying taxes by continuing to use the funds for qualified medical expenses.

How to Avoid Health Savings Account (HSA) Tax Penalties When Changing Your Health Plan

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What happens with my HSA when I turn 65?

At age 65, you can take penalty-free distributions from the HSA for any reason. However, in order to be both tax-free and penalty-free the distribution must be for a qualified medical expense. Withdrawals made for other purposes will be subject to ordinary income taxes.

Does HSA affect Social Security?

1. While you can continue to spend from your HSA, you cannot set up or contribute to an HSA in any month that you are enrolled in Medicare. age, Social Security will give you six months of “back pay” in retirement benefits. This means that your enrollment in Part A will also be backdated by six months.

When should you stop contributing to HSA?

You're getting close to age 65 or you're no longer eligible

If you're not nearing Medicare age, there are other reasons you might not be able to contribute to your HSA, like when you switch health care coverage and are no longer covered by an HDHP.

How much can I contribute to my HSA in the year I turn 65?

The IRS annual contribution limits for HSAs for 2021 is $3,600 for individual coverage and $7,200 for family coverage. Individuals age 55+ can contribute an additional $1,000 per year as a “catch-up” contribution. These limits are based on inflation, and generally increase by moderate amounts every year.

Why is my HSA being taxed?

If an HSA is funded by contributions from both the employer and the employee, it will be important to ensure that the total contributions remain within the annual IRS limits. Contributions made in excess of these annual limits may become taxable income to the employee.

How do I withdraw my HSA tax free?

You can submit a withdrawal request form to receive funds (cash) from your HSA. If the cash is used to pay for ineligible purchases, it must be reported when you're filing your taxes. Once it's reported, it's subject to an income tax and treated as though it had never been in your tax-free HSA.

What should I do with my HSA when I retire?

When you retire, you can use those HSA savings for a range of qualified health care expenses, including:
  1. IRS qualified health care premiums for Medicare Parts B, C, and D,
  2. Medicare deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance,
  3. qualified long-term care insurance premiums,
  4. dental and vision expenses,
  5. hearing aids,

Can you use HSA to pay dental premiums?

HSA - You can use your HSA to pay for eligible health care, dental, and vision expenses for yourself, your spouse, or eligible dependents (children, siblings, parents, and others who are considered an exemption under Section 152 of the tax code).

Do you lose your HSA money at the end of the year?

No. HSA money is yours to keep. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), unused money in your HSA isn't forfeited at the end of the year; it continues to grow, tax-deferred.

Can you roll HSA into IRA?

HSA funds can't be rolled over into an IRA account. There's also no reason to do so, because you preserve your right to use the funds tax-free for medical costs at any time with an HSA.

Does the IRS monitor HSA accounts?

HSA spending may be subject to IRS audit.

Even if HSA funds were used for qualified medical expenses, the IRS may ask for proof that the funds were spent correctly. Because of this, it is a good idea to save receipts and keep careful records of how HSA funds are spent.

Do I have to report my HSA on my tax return?

Tax reporting is required if you have a Health Savings Account (HSA). You may be required to complete IRS Form 8889. HSA Bank provides you with the information and resources to assist you in completing IRS Form 8889 regarding your HSA.

What happens if I don't report my HSA?

Any contributions above the IRS set limit will be considered as taxable income. If you over contribute to your HSA and don't correct it, you may be charged a 6% penalty rate each year on the excess that remains in your account. Although funds in your HSA are tax-free, tax penalties may arise.

Do I have to claim my HSA on taxes?

Are HSA contributions tax deductible? In short, contributions to an HSA made by you or your employer may be claimed as tax deductions, even if you don't itemize deductions on a Schedule A (Form 1040). Additionally, contributions made by your employer may be tax-free and excluded from your gross income.

Do HSA distributions count as income?

HSA distributions are exempt from income taxes if all of the funds are used to pay qualified medical expenses that were incurred after the HSA was established. If any portion of a distribution is not used for qualified medical expenses, that portion is taxable as income and subject to a 20 percent penalty.

What happens if you don't file form 8889?

If you do not Amend and file Form 8889, the IRS will deem all of the HSA Distributions as non-qualified and will add them to your Taxable Income.

Why do I get a 1099 for my HSA?

The 1099-SA is used to report any distribution (withdrawal) of funds from your HSA during the prior year. You must report distributions from your HSA on IRS Form 8889. There's a sample 1099-SA form from the IRS here. The HSA Bank 1099-SA form may look slightly different, but it will contain the same information.

Should you always max out HSA?

A health savings account (HSA) is an account specifically designed for paying health care costs. The tax benefits are so good that some financial planners advise maxing out your HSA before you contribute to an IRA.

Can I move money from HSA to Roth?

Tip. If you roll HSA contributions into your Roth IRA, you'll pay income tax plus a 20 percent penalty on the amount you withdraw because your withdrawal isn't used for medical expenses.

What happens to unused HSA funds at retirement?

If you're 65 or older, retired and on Medicare, you're no longer eligible to contribute to the HSA, but can continue to use the funds for qualified medical expenses. If you're 65 or older, you're not limited to using an HSA just for health care expenses.