Health Savings Accounts
A Washington Trust Bank Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-exempt account established for the purpose of paying or reimbursing qualified medical expenses of you, your spouse and your dependents. Contributions to an HSA are tax-deductible, the earnings grow tax-deferred, and distributions to pay or reimburse qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
Tax Advantages
HSAs allow you to make tax-deductible contributions. Earnings, including gains, in the HSA are tax-deferred. Plus, your distribution (the contributions and earnings you withdraw) are tax-free as long as they're used to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses.
Flexibility in Spending
You can use the money in your HSA to pay for—or reimburse—qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses for you and your family members. Those expenses could include health insurance deductibles, copayments, certain prescription medications, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Year-to-Year Savings
You've heard the phrase "use it or lose it." Well, an HSA isn't like that at all. Your HSA balance will carry forward year after year, allowing you to budget for your health expenses and build up your savings to cover qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses when the need arises.
Individual Ownership
An HSA is owned by you, not your employer. So, it's your responsibility to maintain the HSA. Ask a Washington Trust Bank representative for more details.
Additional product information and details for Health Savings AccountsHealth Flexible Spending Account | Health Reimbursement Arrangement | Health Savings Account | |
---|---|---|---|
What type of health plan is required? | Any type of plan | Any type of plan | HDHP required IRS-defined parameters |
Who owns the account? | Employer | Employer | Employee |
Who can fund the account? | Employee | Employee | Employee, Employer, Others |
Can the account accrue interest? | No | Yes (but not typical) | Yes |
Do assets carry over or roll over to the next plan year? | Limited | Depends on how the plan is set up | Yes |
Is the account portable? | No | No | Yes |
Is there a catch-up contribution provision? | No | No | Yes |