Most of us have heard of a Health Savings Account (HSA), but many don't understand the important details about these accounts.
HSAs were intended to provide a way for Americans to save money for out-of-pocket healthcare expenses before meeting a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) deductible. In fact, an individual or family must have an HDHP to open an HSA.
HSAs were primarily intended to soften the financial burden of healthcare expenses for HDHP account holders of all age groups. However, an HSA can be particularly advantageous in paying for long-term care expenses at age 65 or over.
HDHPs have higher deductibles than typical health plans. Created as a means to contain runaway healthcare costs, consumers pay more out of pocket for their healthcare with these policies under the assumption that they will be motivated to spend less. In 2021, plans that qualify as HDHPs under HSA rules must have a minimum annual deductible of $1,400 for singles and $2,700 for families.
Many consumers prefer HDHPs because they have cheaper monthly premiums. As a result, the popularity of such policies increased significantly, especially after the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) became law. Yet, the downside remains that consumers end up paying more out-of-pocket. To reduce this impact, HSAs were introduced as an attractive way to accumulate money for these expenses.
Health Savings Accounts possess remarkable tax advantages:
*For 2021, HSA contribution limits allow singles to contribute up to $3,600 annually, and families can contribute up to $7,200. Those over 55 can contribute $4,600 and $8,200, respectively. This means the dollars contributed to an HSA are not subject to federal taxes or most state taxes (except in California and New Jersey.)
HSA withdrawals (also called distributions) can be used to cover qualified medical expenses. Generally, these are the same expenses that can be deducted on an income tax return and are defined in IRS publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. However, healthcare expenses paid for with HSA funds cannot be used as itemized deductions on a tax return or reimbursed via a Flexible Spending Account.
Other details about HSAs:
Aside from typical healthcare costs, an HSA can also be used to pay for qualified long-term care expenses and to pay for long-term care insurance premiums.
Qualified long-term care expenses arise from services needed by a "chronically ill" person that have been prescribed by a healthcare professional who has determined the person has either of the following needs in the prior 12 months:
1. The person cannot perform without help at least two ADLs (activities for daily living) like dressing, bathing, or toileting for at least 90 days
or
2. Needs supervision and protection due to cognitive disability (e.g., dementia.)
These needs could be handled by in-home care, assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing settings. Also, the IRS defines "nursing services" in a separate category of HSA-eligible expenses. Nursing services are defined as those typically done by a qualified nurse or attendant. If the nurse also provides help with housework or shopping, these costs are not covered. Only the nurse's fees for time delivering qualifying healthcare can be paid tax-free from the HSA, including family members who provide the same services as a nurse or attendant.
HSA funds can also pay long-term care insurance (LTCI) premiums with some requirements. When considering buying an LTCI policy, make sure it meets HSA rules.
The amount that an HSA account can be used to pay for LTCI premiums depends on age, with the assumption that older policyholders pay higher premiums:
| Age Range | Annual Premium Limit Payable Via HSA |
| Age 41 to 50 | $810 |
| Age 51 to 60 | $1,630 |
| Age 61 to 70 | $4,350 |
| Age 71 or over | $5,430 |
If spouses each have an HSA, each can withdraw the annual premium limit to pay for their respective LTCI policies.
Want to learn more about long-term care payment options? Check out our complimentary eBook, Planning and Paying for Long-Term Care: What Are My Options?
As noted above, HSA withdrawals for non-qualified expenses are taxed, plus a 20% penalty fee for those under 65. At age 65, however, the 20% penalty does not apply, and the HSA acts like a regular IRA. The only difference is that there are no required minimum distributions, providing the account holder greater flexibility than an IRA.
One strategy to maximize the HSA for paying long-term care expenses requires careful planning and execution.
This strategy aims to maximize the amount of money available for long-term care expenses when the time comes. However, it requires some discipline and sacrifice. Not everyone can afford the cash outlays needed for healthcare expenses over the years. However, those who are able to do this can leverage the magic of compounding over an extended time, thereby yielding a significant amount of money for potential long-term care expenses.
Another advantage of this strategy is that the HSA account holder can use the money tax-free for non-healthcare-related expenses. The key to this option is to scrupulously save all receipts for healthcare expenses over the years. Since there is no expiration limit on qualified healthcare costs that have not been otherwise deducted or reimbursed, these can be used to justify tax-free withdrawals from the HSA. The resulting cash can be used for any purpose.
Health Savings Accounts offer many features for consumers in general. Still, these accounts may have many additional advantages for those planning for potential long-term care costs.
Visit our Long-term Care Resources page for more helpful content about planning for care!
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