Benefit Strategies | HSA Rules and Tools

Your Compliance Questions Answered

November 1st, 2018

“The only factor that matters when determining whether an HSA-eligible person is entitled to a family or self-only contribution is the size of the contract. Period.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance November 1, 2018 An important part of my job is to answer your questions about Consumer-Driven Health (CDH) generally.. Read more

One Family’s Approach to Financing Care

October 18th, 2018

“We received a $500 prompt-pay discount and saved approximately $600 on the $1,900 net bill. So, between prompt-pay discount (drawing on Health FSA funds that hadn’t yet been deducted from my paycheck) and the tax savings, our net cost was about $1,300. In contrast, the person in the next chair probably wasn’t covered by a.. Read more

Solving a Small Businessman’s Coverage Dilemma

September 20th, 2018

“This is the ultimate twofer. With as little as one month’s coverage in 2018, they can make the full $6,900 family contribution for 2018 (and they have until April 15, 2019, to deposit the funds), then turn around Jan. 1 and place another $7,000 in their HSAs.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and.. Read more

Your HSA Compliance Questions Answered

May 23rd, 2018

“This strategy is particularly popular in the small-group market, where deductibles are high and employee claims experience isn’t factored into premiums. Groups that are healthier (either fewer total claims or high claims among only a handful of employees) can benefit from this approach.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance May 24, 2018.. Read more

Constructing a Better HSA

February 14th, 2018

“And in perhaps the least visible effort to date, the administration is sifting through dozens of “innovation” proposals submitted late last fall designed to improve patient care, control costs and otherwise offer new approaches to delivering care.” By William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance February 15, 2018 Health Savings Accounts have experienced.. Read more

Understanding Medicare and HSAs

November 20th, 2017

“Ignore the label “penalty.” When you reposition the penalty in your mind as a “surcharge,” you open yourself to analysis that might show a benefit to delaying Part D enrollment because the financial benefits outweigh the financial risks.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance November 21, 2017 Many people find HSAs confusing… Read more

Choosing the Right Health FSA Extender

October 26th, 2017

“This flexibility is a strong argument in favor of using this approach when employees transition from traditional to HSA-qualified coverage. Employers and participants must be vigilant to ensure that they don’t make a mistake that negates an employee’s HSA eligibility for an entire 12 months.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance October.. Read more

Understanding Health FSAs

October 12th, 2017

“There are three important ways employees benefit from participating in a Limited-Purpose Health FSA that employers should consider when reviewing whether to offer it: Additional tax savings, preservation of HSA funds and cash-flow advantages.” William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance October 12, 2017 One of the more difficult concepts for benefits administrators.. Read more

The FSA/HSA Misalignment Conundrum

July 7th, 2017

“An employee enrolled in both the HSA-qualified medical plan and traditional Health FSA is not HSA-eligible. She can enroll in the medical plan, but she can’t open an HSA or make any HSA contributions before the end of the Health FSA plan year at the earliest. (If she has an already existing HSA with funds in it,.. Read more

What’s better – an HRA or an HSA?

October 27th, 2016

By William G. (Bill) Stuart Director of Strategy and Compliance October 27, 2016 It’s a trick question. There is no clear answer. It’s like asking, “What’s a better vehicle – a pick-up truck or a compact sedan?” The answer in both cases depends on your current and projected needs, your budget and your preferences. Defining.. Read more

Category: HSA Rules and Tools