(FAQ archive) Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

[Martha]

This IRS publication discusses Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and other mechanisms to save for health care expenses: Publication 969 (2006), Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans

This IRS publication discusses what medical expenses can be paid from an HSA or FSA:
Publication 502 (2006), Medical and Dental Expenses


The US Department of Treasury has a web site devoted to HSAs: U.S. Treasury - Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) This Treasury Department brochure has a very complete discussion of HSAs:
http://www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/pdf/all-about-HSAs_051807.pdf
It discusses HSA qualified plans, contribution limits and rules, distributions, issues peculiar to families, treatment on death, HSA custodians, and rollovers.

One more excellent web site on HSAs is Health Saving Accounts, HSA, Reduce Health Insurance Cost, Tax Free Withdrawal, Medical Savings Account Transfers, MSA, No Load Mutual Fund.


Frayne's summary about how HSAs work: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/hsa-primer-30862.html#post570261

Tombone Al’s thoughts on why HSAs are worthwhile: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-summary-19292.html

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-questions-30591.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-tax-concern-30607.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/young-adult-health-care-decision-30243.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/qualifying-expenses-hsa-29697.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...fers-eligible-hsa-expense-tracking-29496.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-plans-28720.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/health-savings-plans-hsas-start-falter-28241.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-success-story-27808.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/physicians-group-unveils-its-price-list-27998.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/self-insurance-health-opinions-challenges-14420.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/health-ins-cost-reduction-17607.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...e-when-calculating-yearly-expenses-27566.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/interesting-hsa-distribution-rule-27124.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...e-questions-cobra-foreign-coverage-27016.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/apply-health-insurance-specific-questions-26858.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-after-you-er-26991.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/private-hsas-26545.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-other-pre-tax-pay-health-care-24734.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/another-savings-tool-26440.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-copay-insurance-26085.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/credit-record-blood-pressure-health-insurance-25813.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-plans-included-new-tax-legislation-24447.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-25652.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-s-more-questions-23734.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-questions-23888.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-taxes-23067.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/pay-cobra-premiums-using-hsa-22759.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-thoughts-20223.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-opening-20408.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/safety-hsa-funds-vanguard-20081.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-contribution-timing-18689.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/anyone-using-hsas-18672.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-contribution-timing-18689.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/health-insurance-hsa-option-17302.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-insurance-15916.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/hsa-good-young-dreamer-crowd-16098.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/health-savings-account-15634.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/health-savings-accounts-14534.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/healthcare-savings-accounts-here-14705.html


HSA account custodians:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/vanguard-hsa-30576.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/recommendation-hsa-account-29514.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/hsa-custodians-28610.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/why-so-few-hsa-accounts-offered-24801.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/two-things-hsa-all-vg-22036.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/hsa-custodian-research-19196.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f28/recommend-hsa-custodian-18691.html


Differences between HSAs and FSAs:

http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/flexible-spending-account-30005.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f30/hsa-fsa-balancing-act-23591.html

 

[Martha]

A more recent (2009) thread that talks about HSA custodians is here: http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f38/setting-up-a-health-savings-account-47408.html