Medicare Blog

can i make hsa contributions after age 65 when on medicare

by Vincent McCullough Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Final Year’s Contributionis Pro-Rata. You can make an HSA contribution after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare,if you have not maximized your contribution for your last year of HSA eligibility. You have until April 15 of the year following the tax year you lose HSA eligibility to make your HSA contribution. You can do so even if you are no longer eligible for an HSA so long as you are making a contribution for a period when you were eligible.

You can make an HSA contribution after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, if you have not maximized your contribution for your last year of HSA eligibility. You have until April 15 of the year following the tax year you lose HSA eligibility to make your HSA contribution.

Full Answer

Can I still contribute to a HSA when I turn 65?

Once you turn 65 and meet the requirements to qualify for Medicare Part A, you become Medicare-eligible. As long as you do not enroll in Medicare, you can still contribute to your HSA. Once you reach age 65, you can spend your HSA funds, penalty-free, on anything you want.

How to make HSA contributions after age 65?

Key Points

  • You may not want to invest extra money in your 401 (k) after earning your employer match.
  • Other accounts could provide important benefits a 401 (k) can't compete with.
  • Three of these other accounts include a health savings account, a Roth IRA, or a traditional IRA.

How do I withdraw my HSA funds after age 65?

  • In 2021, if you're 40 or younger, you can withdraw $430
  • If you're 41 to 50, you can withdraw $810
  • If you're 51 to 60, you can withdraw $1,630
  • If you're 61 to 70, you can withdraw $4,350
  • If you're 71 or older, you can withdraw $5,430

Does Medicare cover all medical expenses after age 65?

The short answer is “no”; however, it will cover a significant portion of a person’s medical expenses. Thus, the challenge for the patient is to understand what Medicare, Medigap, prescription plans, and other plans will cover. Medicare is a federal insurance program that guarantees health coverage for people 65 and older, those with extreme disabilities and infants who have significant medical problems at birth.

Can you make an HSA contribution if you are on Medicare?

Medicare doesn't offer an HSA qualifying option. You can't make contributions to your HSA for any months after you enroll in any part of Medicare, even if you're also covered on an HSA qualifying plan.

Can a retired person on Medicare have an HSA?

Yes. Even if enrolled in Medicare, you may keep an HSA if it was in existence prior to Medicare enrollment. You can spend from your HSA to help pay for medical expenses, such as deductibles, premiums, copayments, and coinsurances. If you use the account for qualified medical expenses, it will continue to be tax-free.

When can you no longer contribute to HSA?

age 65If a worker is already collecting Social Security upon turning age 65, he or she will be automatically enrolled in Medicare and henceforth no longer be able to contribute to his or her HSA.

Can my spouse contribute to an HSA if I am on Medicare?

Your spouse on Medicare is not eligible to contribute to an HSA in his or her name, regardless of whether he or she is covered on your medical plan.

Who Cannot contribute to an HSA?

An employee covered by an HDHP and a health FSA or an HRA that pays or reimburses qualified medical expenses can't generally make contributions to an HSA. FSAs and HRAs are discussed later. However, an employee can make contributions to an HSA while covered under an HDHP and one or more of the following arrangements.

What happens to HSA when you turn 65?

But after you turn 65, that 20% penalty no longer applies, so withdraw away! Once you're 65, your HSA is treated like a traditional IRA if you withdraw money for non-medical expenses. A traditional IRA is a retirement account in which the contributions and gains are tax-free, but withdrawals are subject to income tax.

When should I stop HSA contributions before Medicare?

The takeaway here is that you should delay Social Security benefits and decline Part A if you wish to continue contributing funds to your HSA. Finally, if you decide to delay enrolling in Medicare, make sure to stop contributing to your HSA at least six months before you do plan to enroll in Medicare.

What is the tax penalty for contributing to an HSA on Medicare?

If, however, the individual becomes ineligible for the HSA anytime in the next calendar year (referred to as the “testing period”), either due to Medicare enrollment or otherwise, they will be subject to back taxes and a 10% income tax penalty on the amount of funds they contributed.

Can I open an HSA account if I am retired?

You sure can. Even though you can't contribute to an HSA after you sign up for Medicare, you can keep the account and use the money tax-free for medical expenses. In fact, you can use the money in the HSA for anything after age 65, although you will owe taxes on any withdrawals you make for nonmedical expenses.

Can you have an HSA if you are collecting Social Security?

HSAs offer many advantages, but they don't mix with certain types of federal programs and benefits. For example, if you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A or B, or if you file for Social Security benefits after age 65, you can't make contributions to an HSA.

When do you have to enroll in Medicare?

Companies with fewer than 20 employees can require you to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65 (Medicare then becomes the primary coverage, and the employer picks up many expenses that Medicare doesn’t cover).

Can I make HSA contributions after 65?

But this may not be a good move. Having read your column about health savings accounts after Medicare, I understand that I can’t make new contributions to my HSA after I sign up for Medicare.

Can I get Medicare Part B at age 65?

People who keep working after age 65 often delay enrolling in Medicare Part B, for which there is a premium, if they have coverage through their employer. But most sign up for Part A as soon as they turn 65 because it’s free. Delaying coverage altogether isn’t always an option.

Can I keep my HSA after 65?

You are right that you may be able to keep making HSA contributions after age 65 if you delay your Medicare enrollment, assuming your employer allows you to do so.

How long do you have to stop contributing to HSA before applying for Medicare?

To avoid a tax penalty, you should stop contributing to your HSA at least 6 months prior to applying for Medicare. You can withdraw money from your HSA after you enroll in Medicare to help pay for medical expenses, however, if you contribute to your HSA after obtaining Medicare status, you can be assessed penalties of 6%.

What is an HSA account?

An HSA is a Health Savings Account. It is a type of Consumer-Directed Healthcare account (CDH accounts). HSAs are related to Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). If you are turning 65, you can keep the HSA that you’ve built up, but you should not contribute to it.

How does HSA work?

HSAs allow you to contribute pre-tax money to your account. Later you can utilize the money for a wide variety of health services. Some of these services are not even eligible under Medicare – such as vision and hearing, but you can use your HSA to pay for them.

When is a non qualified contribution taxed?

Funds used for qualified expenses after age 65 will not be taxed. And, if you use the funds after age 65 for non-qualified expenses, they’ll be taxed. Non-qualified expenses are typically non-medical expenses.

Do HSA contributions have to be taxed?

Contributions and funds used for qualified expenses are not taxed. HSA balances and interest roll over from year to year. You do not have a “use it or lose it” feature with an HSA. Because of this, they are extremely attractive for younger people who want to save as much tax-free money as they can.

Is an HSA taxed?

Because they are normally not taxed for qualified expenses, HSAs are incredibly useful funds. If you’d like to continue to get health benefits through an HSA-like benefit structure after you enroll in Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plan might be an option.

How much can I contribute to my HSA if I turn 65 on June 21?

Your maximum contribution for the year will be 5/12 (for the five months of January through May) times the contribution limit of $4,450 ($3,450 plus a $1,000 catch-up contribution allowed for those over age 55).

Can I contribute to my HSA if I turn 65?

You lose eligibility to do so as of the first day of the month you turn 65. So if you turn 65 on June 21, you may not contribute to your HSA after June 1. Your maximum contribution for the year will be ...

What happens to my HSA once I enroll in medicare?

When you enroll in Medicare, you can continue to withdraw money from your HSA. The money is yours forever. Your HSA dollars can cover qualified medical expenses — 100% tax-free — if your insurance doesn’t reimburse you.

Are there penalties for having both an HSA and Medicare?

The IRS won’t penalize you if you still have money in your HSA when you enroll in Medicare. You can use your HSA dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses if you want to save money on taxes. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), all the unused funds in your HSA will continue to roll over every year.

What costs are not covered by Medicare?

Before you apply for Medicare, you should review your major out-of-pocket costs. This will help you determine the best time to apply for coverage.

What happens when I buy an eligible expense vs. an ineligible expense with HSA funds?

When you turn 65, you will have more flexibility over how you use the funds in your HSA. You can pay for all qualified expenses, free of taxes. You’ll have to pay income tax on money you withdraw to pay for nonqualified expenses. If you’re under 65, you may also owe a 20% tax penalty.

Are my withdrawals for HSA tax-free?

One of the benefits of an HSA is that your withdrawals can be tax-free if used for qualified medical expenses. All nonqualified expenses will be subject to federal and state income taxes.

The bottom line

Enrolling in Medicare can affect your ability to make contributions to a health savings account (HSA). Before you sign up for Medicare, make sure you understand HSA rules to avoid unexpected taxes and penalties. Although Medicare beneficiaries cannot contribute to an HSA, they can still withdraw money from the account.

What happens to HSA after 65?

After you reach age 65, your HSA continues to offer big tax benefits, including some expanded possibilities for tax- and penalty-free distributions. However, you may also lose your ability to contribute. These rules are complicated and it’s easy to miss out on benefits or make costly mistakes.

What age can I contribute to my HSA?

When it comes to making contributions to your HSA when you reach age 65 , things can get a little tricky. This is due to the interaction of the HSA rules with Medicare. To be eligible to contribute to an HSA, you must have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

When do you lose your HSA if you apply for Social Security?

You lose your eligibility to make an HSA contribution as of the first day of the month you turn age 65 and enroll in Medicare.

When can I make a pro rated HSA contribution?

You can make a pro-rated contribution for the year to your HSA for the months before you became ineligible due to your enrollment in Medicare. This contribution can be made until the HSA contribution deadline, which is generally April 15, of the following year. Complicated Rules Call for Expert Advice.

Can I get HSA after 65?

Expanded Benefits After Age 65. At 65, you will also gain some new benefits with your HSA. Certain insurance premiums can be paid tax free with HSA distribution s after you reach age 65 and enroll in Medicare. You can pay for all Medicare premiums except Medigap. Employee payments of premiums for employer health insurance plans also qualify.

Is an HSA deductible?

Two, there is no taxation on funds while they are in the HSA and, three, distributions taken for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Not a bad deal!

Can I have Medicare if I have another HSA?

You cannot have coverage under another plan that is not an HDHP. Because Medicare is not an HDHP, you cannot contribute to your HSA if you are enrolled in Medicare. Enrollment in any Medicare coverage (Parts A, B, C, D, or Medigap) will end HSA eligibility.

How old do you have to be to contribute to an HSA?

HSA Contributions After Age 65. The rules for contributing to an HSA do not change once an individual turns age 65. So if the individual meets the eligibility requirements, he can contribute his annual limit, including a $1,000 catch-up contribution because of his age (age 55 or older). Thus, an HSA owner.

What happens if you enroll in Medicare after 65?

Therefore, if someone enrolls in Medicare after age 65, he generally should plan on having retroactive coverage and reduce his HSA contribution appropriately. This may prevent making an excess HSA contribution. Enrollment in Medicare and determining the months someone is enrolled is complicated.

How long does Medicare last?

This seven-month period is broken into three phases and the start date of certain Medicare coverages may be affected by the month enrolled. These phases run three months before the month they turn age 65, the month they turn age 65, and the three months following the month they turn age 65. Some individuals may decide to opt out or delay Medicare ...

What happens if you don't use your HSA?

If they don’t use their HSA withdrawal to pay for qualified medical expenses after age 65, then they include the distributed amount as taxable income but won’t have to pay the additional penalty tax because reaching age 65 is an exception to this tax. Medicare Premiums.

When does Medicare retroactive coverage begin?

Retroactive Enrollment. Individuals who delay Medicare beyond age 65 generally will have retroactive coverage for Medicare Part A when they do enroll. Premium-free Part A coverage begins six months before the date the individual applies for Medicare, but no earlier than the first month he was eligible for Medicare.

How many employees do you need to be on Medicare?

As noted, in order to delay Medicare enrollment, one must be covered under a group health plan that covers at least 20 employees. Individuals generally won’t meet this 20-employee requirement if they work for a small employer or are self-employed.

When do you enroll in Medicare?

This enrollment generally takes place on the first day in the month they reach age 65.

How to decline Medicare Part A?

If you signed up for Medicare Part A and now want to decline it, you can do so by contacting the Social Security Administration. Assuming you have not begun receiving Social Security checks this will reestablish your eligibility for an HSA. If you have applied for or have begun receiving Social Security, you cannot opt out of Medicare Part A without paying the government back all the money you received from Social Security payments plus paying the government back for any money Medicare spent on your medical claims. This action will also stop future Social Security payments (until you reapplyand start this cycle over again).

Can I contribute to HSA after 65?

Tobe able to contributeto an HSA after age 65, you must not enroll in Medicare. HSA rules make a distinction between being merely “eligible” for Medicare (keep HSA eligibility) and being “entitled” to or “enrolled” in Medicare (lose HSA eligibility). You become enrolledin Medicare under Part A by filing an application or being approved automatically. The Social Security Administration automatically “enrolls” you in Medicare Part A when you begin collecting Social Security benefits. Accordingly, if you are receiving Social Security payments and are over65, you are almost certainlyenrolled in Medicare Part A. Also, employees that work for smaller employers (fewer than 20 employees) will have Medicare as their primary insurance at age 65. Some people; however, avoid enrolling in Medicare and being automatically enrolled by waiting to receive Social Security. If you are not enrolled in Medicare and are otherwise HSA eligible, you can continue to contribute to an HSA after age 65. You are also allowed to contribute the $1,000 catch-up.

Can I make an HSA contribution to my spouse?

An employer; however, cannot make HSA contributions into the HSA of an employee’s spouse.

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