Can HSA Be Used For Medicare Premiums?

A health savings account (HSA) is an account that can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses. It is a great option for people who want to save money on healthcare costs. It is similar to a health care flexible spending account (FSA) but has some extra features. Unlike an FSA, which is owned by your employer, an HSA belongs to the individual who holds it. This means that if you leave your job, you can take your money with you. You can even invest it so it can grow over time.

Once enrolled in Medicare, you can no longer contribute to an HSA (unless you defer Medicare enrollment during retirement, which is only possible for people 65 years old and not yet receiving Social Security retirement benefits). But that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from it later in life. HSA funds can be used to pay for Medicare premiums, copayments, and deductibles. They can also be used to purchase long-term care insurance if eligible.

However, you cannot use an HSA to cover supplemental Medicare insurance premiums, which are also called Medigap policies. This is because the IRS does not consider a Medigap policy a qualified medical expense.

Using HSA for Medicare Supplement Premiums

HSAs allow individuals to save pretax dollars and use the funds tax-free for eligible healthcare expenses. The account can also be used for retirement savings. The funds don’t expire at the plan year’s end and can be transferred between employers and other accounts. Eligible healthcare costs include in-network doctor visits, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications. In addition, the owner of an HSA can save receipts for qualified medical expenses and file for reimbursement later. However, if the individual changes to a different health plan, only expenses incurred during the previous plan year are eligible for reimbursement.

While the account is available to anyone, it’s best for those who are under 65 and have a high-deductible health insurance plan. If the individual enrolls in Medicare, the money in the account will no longer be able to be used for qualified expenses but can be used to pay the premium for Medicare Part B and other Medicare costs. The account can also be used to cover the copayments and deductibles for Medicare Part D. To avoid penalties, it’s recommended to stop contributing to an HSA six months before Medicare enrollment. This is especially important for those who are self-employed. The remaining amount in the account can be rolled over into a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan after retirement.