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<br />Employee Bextfit <br />Specialists <br />HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT (HSA) OVERVIEW POR EMPLOYERS <br />Q: What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)? <br />A: A Health Savings Account is atax-advantaged account that allows participants to save money on a <br />pretax basis for the satisfaction of health plan deductibles and other qualified medical expenses. <br />HSAs were enacted under the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act <br />signed in December 2003 and became available January 1, 2004. HSAs are owned by the <br />participant and are portable upon termination of employment. <br />Q: What is an HSA health plan design? <br />A: An HSA health plan design is one that couples a qualified high deductible health plan (QHDHP) <br />with an HSA. This kind of health plan follows IRS regulations dictating the amount of the health <br />plan deductible, plan benefits (like prescription drugs), and allowed HSA contributions. <br />Q: What are the key advantages of an HSA? <br />A: Tax Advantages <br />• No federal or state tax* on contributions (in most states). <br />• No federal or state tax* on interest or earnings accrued within the HSA. <br />• No federal or state tax* on withdrawals for eligible expenses. Non-eligible expense <br />withdrawals prior to age 65 are subject to income tax and a 10%. This penalty increases to <br />20% effective 1/1/2011. After age 65, income tax only applies to withdrawals for non-eligible <br />expenses. <br />• No FICA taxes when contributions are made through payroll deduction. <br />'There are several states that currently do not recognize [he HSA tax deduction: Alabama, California, and New Jersey. <br />Other Advantages <br />• No "use it or lose it". Unlike flexible spending accounts (FSA), HSA funds remaining at the end <br />of year roll into the following year with no limit. <br />• The HSA is always fully vested and portable. <br />• HSA health plan designs offer potential savings through lower premiums (which can be saved <br />in the HSA). <br />• The money set aside in an HSA allows more control over medical spending. <br />• An HSA helps employees pay for medical costs with tax-advantaged dollars. <br />• An HSA is not an ERISA plan and employer HSA contributions do not require COBRA <br />continuation. <br />©2OlO. ALI RIGHTS RESERVED. CONFIDENTIAL. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE E%PERTS WITH DAVID MARTIN AGENCY. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT <br />WWW. DAVI DMARTINAGENCY.COM <br />