What should I save for HSA reimbursement?

Asked by: Heather Boehm I  |  Last update: September 27, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (65 votes)

HSA reimbursements need matching receipts.
When paying out of pocket for healthcare expenses, employees can reimburse themselves from the HSA at any time – so encourage them to save receipts, as they will need documentation of expenses to match reimbursements.

What do I need to keep for HSA reimbursement?

Hold on to any insurance carrier's Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement that documents your expenses for services covered under your HSA-eligible health plan. Keep receipts for all other items purchased with your HSA, for example, vision and dental services.

How much cash should I keep in HSA?

The short answer: As much as you're able to (within IRS contribution limits), if that's financially viable. If you're covered by an HSA-eligible health plan (or high-deductible health plan), the IRS allows you to put as much as $3,850 per year (in 2023) into your health savings account (HSA).

What expenses are reimbursed by HSA?

HSA reimbursement is the concept of using money from a health savings account (HSA) to “pay back” qualified medical expenses that were made out of pocket, usually because the total expense exceeds the amount in the account at the time.

How long should I save HSA receipts?

Hold onto every receipt and statement

Cheekiness aside, keep every single receipt and HSA statement like it's going out of style. You want to hold onto all those HSA records as long as your tax return is considered "open," which is about three years after you file, or as long as you have your HSA account.

What is the Best Way to Keep Track of HSA Expenses?

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Do I need to keep all my receipts for HSA?

HSA reimbursements need matching receipts.

When using an HSA debit card, retain receipts for each transaction as those expenses will be reported to the IRS, and you could be audited.

Should you save HSA receipts?

Always save your receipts and supporting documentation for your records. While Benefit Resource will not ask you to provide a receipt for an HSA expense, you are responsible for maintaining documentation of account use in the event that you are ever audited by the IRS.

Can I use HSA for gym membership?

Physical therapy is an approved medical expense. Can I use my HSA for a gym membership? Typically no. Unless you have a letter from your doctor stating that the membership is necessary to treat an injury or underlying health condition, such as obesity, a gym membership isn't a qualifying medical expense.

Can I buy a treadmill with my HSA?

A treadmill may be eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) and health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Is Apple Watch HSA eligible?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is usually no. This is because according to the IRS, fitness trackers are used to promote what the IRS terms “general health”. Expenses under this general health definition are not considered HSA eligible expenses.

Can you put too much in HSA?

Putting too much money in your HSA can happen, but the IRS isn't happy when it happens. In fact, you'll be penalized for it unless you catch it and fix it.

What happens if you have too much money in HSA?

If you contribute too much money to your health savings account (HSA), you may face additional taxes and penalties. But you can avoid a tax penalty by withdrawing the total amount of excess contributions from your HSA before the tax deadline.

How does an HSA account grow?

Money in your HSA can earn interest

In many cases, you can invest a portion of your HSA balance if you maintain a $1,000 balance in your account. The money you invest (in mutual funds or stocks, for example) continues to grow tax-free. These are some of the reasons many people use their HSA to save for retirement.

Does the IRS monitor HSA accounts?

However, total withdrawals from your HSA are reported to the IRS on Form 1099-SA. You are responsible for reporting qualified and non-qualified withdrawals when completing your taxes. You are also responsible for saving all receipts as verification of expenses in the case of an IRS audit.

What should be on HSA receipt?

All receipts should include the amount paid, who it was paid to (payee's name or code), and the date of the transaction. Some purchases require a letter of medical necessity or prescription in order to be eligible.

Can I use HSA for vitamins?

With this IRS definition in mind, while daily multivitamins are not FSA/HSA eligible, there are some types of vitamins that are eligible with consumer-directed healthcare accounts and others that may be eligible with proper documentation from a physician.

Can I buy a peloton with my HSA?

Can I buy a Peloton bike with my HSA? Can I use my HSA for a gym membership? Treadmills, gym memberships, and peloton bikes are not eligible HSA or FSA expenses. However, if you have a Letter of Medical Necessity from your doctor that requires you to exercise, you might be able to use HSA or FSA funds for those.

Can I use my HSA to pay for a Fitbit?

A fitness tracker device, such as a Fitbit, is only eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) or a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

Can you use HSA to pay for Botox?

Botox: HSA Eligibility

Botox injections are not eligible for reimbursement with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA) health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA) or a limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA).

Can you use HSA for teeth whitening?

What Dental Services are Not Covered by My HSA? Cosmetic procedures, like teeth whitening, are not covered by your HSA funds. Neither are dental products like dental floss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, or mouthwash. Those products are out of pocket expenses.

Can you buy toothbrush with HSA?

Toothbrushes are not eligible for reimbursement with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), health reimbursement accounts (HRA), dependent care flexible spending accounts and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts (LPFSA) because they are general health products.

How do I organize my HSA receipts?

For physical receipts, you can scan them into your computer or use a new folder for each year's receipts to keep them somewhere safe. Remember, ink fades over time so you really do need to digitize these. You can use any storage and filing system you like for digital receipts.

What is HSA receipt loophole?

Again, you don't have to reimburse yourself for those medical expenses in the same year, or the same plan year that you incur those medical expenses. If you incur that medical expense, you can just write it down. And then you can reimburse yourself from the HSA at a later date.

What happens if you don't report HSA?

You must self-report any non-qualifying purchases on the Health Savings Account screen. Not claiming the non-qualifying expenses may lead to an audit, and you'll be subject to penalties and fines.

What happens to money not used in HSA?

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.