Medicare Blog

can my wife who has medicare through disability use my hsa account

by Jacey Schmeler II Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago

My wife has disability medicare coverage which we are told cannot be enrolled in HSA. From what i read, if the primary insurance holder (which is myself) does not have a secondary insurance, then we can enroll in an HSA.

Yes, being eligible to contribute to the HSA is determined by the status of the HSA account holder not the dependents of the account holder. Your spouse being on Medicare does not disqualify you from continuing contributions to the HSA up to the family limit, even if they are also covered by the HDHP.

Full Answer

Can I enroll in HSA if my wife has Medicare disability?

Your wife's Medicare coverage prevents her from being an individual eligible to contribute to an HSA but it has no effect on your eligibility for you to contribute to your HSA. ("You" in this reference is referring to a particular individual.) June 6, 2019 2:59 AM Can I enroll in HSA eventhough my wife has Medicare disability?

Can my spouse use my HSA without an HDHP?

This is especially true if you have self-only coverage: even if not covered by an HDHP, medical expenses spent on your spouse are considered qualified. The benefit is your spouse can consume medical care on a pre-tax bases. One partner can save funds in their HSA, and still allow the other to use those dollars.

Can I contribute to my HSA if I have Medicare?

Although you can't contribute to your HSA once your Medicare coverage begins, you can still withdraw from it for qualified medical expenses—even while you're in Medicare. Can I enroll in Medicare if I’m covered by my spouse’s HSA?

Can I have a health savings account with Medicare?

Unfortunately, some restrictions come along with having a Health Savings Account with Medicare. HSA is only for those enrolled in a high-deductible plan. Since Medicare is not considered an HDHP, enrolling makes you ineligible to contribute to an HSA. Once you enroll in Medicare, it’s illegal to continue to contribute to a Health Savings Account.

Can I have an HSA if my spouse has 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.

Can my wife use my HSA card?

You can use an HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses for yourself, a spouse, and your dependents, even if they are covered by other insurance.

Can a health savings account be used to pay Medicare premiums?

Once you reach age 65, you have more options for using your HSA funds. For example, you may use your funds, free of tax and penalty, for qualified medical expenses as well as to pay for Medicare Parts A, B, D premiums and Medicare HMO premiums.

Can someone not on my insurance use my HSA?

Can my HSA be Used for Dependents Not Covered by my Health Insurance Plan? Yes. Qualified medical expenses include unreimbursed medical expenses of the accountholder, his or her spouse, or dependents.

Can my spouse open an HSA?

The HSA belongs to the individual not the employer and any eligible individual may open an HSA. As long as you are covered under a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) you may open and contribute to an HSA. My spouse and I have family coverage, can we both open an HSA? Yes.

Can I transfer my HSA to my spouse's HSA?

Can I roll over or transfer funds from my HSA to a spouse's HSA? No. You cannot rollover or transfer an account balance to another person's HSA. This would result in a taxable distribution (i.e., a distribution that was not used for a qualified medical expense).

Why can't Medicare recipients have an HSA?

Once you enroll in Medicare Part A and/or B, you can no longer setup or contribute pre-tax dollars to an existing HSA. This is because to contribute pre-tax dollars to an HSA you cannot have any health insurance other than a HDHP.

Does Medicare Part A disqualify HSA contributions?

Medicare Part A eligibility alone does not disqualify an individual from contributing to an HSA. However, individuals cannot make HSA contributions for any month in which they are both eligible for and enrolled in Medicare (i.e., actually “entitled” to Medicare benefits).

What can I use my HSA funds for after age 65?

Your HSA as a retirement account By using your HSA funds after age 65 for medical expenses, Medicare premiums, or long-term care expenses/insurance, you can continue to avoid taxes altogether. Once you turn 65, you can also choose to treat your HSA like a retirement account!

Can I pay my spouse's medical expenses with my FSA?

A few fast facts about FSAs You can use funds in your FSA to pay for certain medical and dental expenses for you, your spouse if you're married, and your dependents. You can spend FSA funds to pay deductibles and copayments, but not for insurance premiums.

What are the rules for an HSA account?

According to federal guidelines, you can open and contribute to an HSA if you: Are covered under a qualifying high-deductible health plan which meets the minimum deductible and the maximum out of pocket threshold for the year. Are not covered by any other medical plan, such as that for a spouse.

What is an HSA account?

An HSA account provides you with an unparalleled triple tax break: tax-deferred contributions, tax-free investment growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. The HDHP is there when you need it, kicking in once your health-care spending reaches a specified amount.

How long does it take to get Medicare back?

When you start drawing Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration backdates your Medicare Part A enrollment by, at the most, six months (it depends on when you became eligible for Medicare). To avoid any overlap, stop contributing to your HSA six months before applying for Social Security benefits.

Is HSA deductible for Medicare?

IRS law states that HSA eligibility requires enrollment in only a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Enrollment in an additional health plan is forbidden— including Medicare. Because of the enormous tax benefits included with an HSA, the IRS upholds this rule strictly.

What is a health savings account?

A Health Savings Account is a savings account in which money can be set aside for certain medical expenses. As you get close to retiring, it’s essential to understand how Health Savings Accounts work with Medicare.

What is HSA 2021?

Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Home / FAQs / General Medicare / Medicare and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Updated on June 9, 2021. There are guidelines and rules you must follow when it comes to Medicare and Health Savings Accounts. A Health Savings Account is a savings account in which money can be set aside for certain medical ...

What is the excise tax on Medicare?

If you continue to contribute, or your Medicare coverage becomes retroactive, you may have to pay a 6% excise tax on those excess contributions. If you happen to have excess contributions, you can withdraw some or all to avoid paying the excise tax.

Can you withdraw money from a health savings account?

Once the money goes into the Health Savings Account account, you can withdraw it for any medical expense, tax-free. Additionally, you can earn interest, your balance carries over each year, and this can become an investment for a retirement fund. Unfortunately, some restrictions come along with having a Health Savings Account with Medicare.

What are qualified medical expenses?

Qualified medical expenses are those incurred by the following persons: 1 You and your spouse 2 All dependents you claim on your tax return 3 Any person you could have claimed as a dependent on your tax return (see exceptions)

Can I spend my HSA on myself?

You and your Spouse. Intuitively, we know that you can spend your HSA funds on yourself. Heck, you insured yourself, opened the HSA, contributed the funds; I sure hope you can spend it on yourself! What is less known is your HSA contributions can be used on your spouse as well.

Can you claim dependents on your taxes?

All dependents you claim on your tax return. Any person you could have claimed as a dependent on your tax return (see exceptions) So while your family may not be covered by your HSA eligible insurance, they are at least covered by your HSA dollars.

Can I use my HSA for my children?

In other words, either parent can use their HSA dollars for their children even if they are divorced/separated and dependent status is up in the air. The other parent’s actions regarding dependent and taxation do not affect how the other parent treats the child for qualified medical expenses on their Health Savings Account.

What age do you have to be to get medicare?

Although there are several ways to qualify for Medicare, the program is most closely associated with people over age 65.

Is it important to know if you are contributing to an HSA?

It’s important for Individuals who are contributing to an HSA to know there are interactions between HSAs and social security and Medicare. We recommend you consult a broker or financial advisor to understand how and when you stop contributing to an HSA.

Does HSA have health insurance?

This is because a person with an HSA must also have health insurance that qualifies as a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and can receive no other health coverage apart from the HDHP. The IRS counts Medicare Parts A and B as health coverage, but not as an HDHP.

Rule 1: Your annual contributions limit is based on who is covered under your high deductible health plan (HDHP)

The IRS sets annual contribution limits for HSAs based on whether you have an individual or a family account and health plan. If you have an individual HDHP as your health insurance, and your spouse has their own health insurance plan through another source, you can only contribute up to the individual contribution limits to your HSA.

Rule 2: You can only use your HSA to pay for current qualified medical expenses

While you can use any savings you amassed prior to getting married to pay for your spouse’s current or future qualified medical expenses, you can’t use it to pay for anything in the past.

Rule 4: Once you turn 65, you can use your HSA on whatever you want

Once you turn 65, your HSA operates like a normal retirement account. That means you can use your money on whatever you want for you and your spouse. You just have to pay income taxes on the disbursed amount unless you use your money to pay for qualified medical expenses, which are always tax-free.

How to increase your HSA balance faster

If you’ve just gotten married and all of a sudden there’s a whole other person or persons now utilizing your HSA, you might feel as though your annual contribution doesn’t go as far as it used to. Here are a couple ways to make sure you have the money you need for the expenses you have:

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