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CRS Compares Tax-Advantaged Healthcare Accounts

DEC. 26, 2006

RS21573

DATED DEC. 26, 2006
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Lyke, Bob
    Peterson, Chris L.
  • Institutional Authors
    Congressional Research Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2007-1848
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2007 TNT 16-32
Citations: RS21573

 

Order Code RS21573

 

 

Updated December 26, 2006

 

 

Bob Lyke and Chris L. Peterson

 

Domestic Social Policy Division

 

 

Summary

 

____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are the newest addition to an array of tax-advantaged accounts that people can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by insurance. First available January 1, 2004, HSAs have largely replaced the similar but more restrictive Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), which never attracted many participants. In addition, people may have access to two employment-based accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) and health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Collectively, these accounts have some features and objectives in common, but they also differ in important respects. Keeping these accounts straight can be difficult, especially when they are discussed informally using different names.

This report provides brief summaries and background information about the four accounts and then compares them with respect to eligibility, contribution limits, use of funds, and other characteristics for tax year 2007. The report concludes with a brief discussion of equity and several other issues. It will be updated when changes occur.

____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Brief Summaries and Background

Four types of tax-advantaged accounts are permitted under current law for people to pay unreimbursed medical expenses such as deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by insurance: health care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, and Archer Medical Savings Accounts.1

Health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are employer-established arrangements that reimburse employees for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. They usually are funded through salary reduction agreements under which employees receive less pay (e.g., $100 less a month) in exchange for equivalent contributions to their accounts (in this case, $1,200 for the year). Employees choose how much to put into their accounts, which can vary from year to year. They forfeit unused balances at the end of the year unless the employer offers a grace period for additional claims of up to 2 1/2 months after the end of the year (e.g., so medical expenses incurred by March 15, 2008, could be reimbursed from the FSA for 2007). A limited, one-time rollover may be made to a Health Savings Account. The entire annual amount of an FSA must be made available to employees at the beginning of the year. Contributions are not subject to income or employment taxes (i.e., Social Security and Medicare taxes), unlike the pay employees otherwise would have received.

FSAs funded by salary reductions are governed by Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, which exempts contributions from taxes despite the fact that employees have the choice to receive taxable wages.2 Most rules regarding FSAs are not spelled out in the Code; they were included in proposed regulations that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued in 1984 and 1989. Final rules regarding permissible mid-year election changes were issued in 2000 and 2001. FSAs are available to more than one-fifth of private-sector workers (typically in larger establishments) and nearly half of government workers (including federal employees), though participation rates are substantially lower.3

Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) are also employer-established arrangements to reimburse employees for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. As is the case with FSAs, contributions are not subject to either income or employment taxes. However, contributions cannot be made through salary reduction agreements; only employers may contribute. Employers need not actually fund HRAs until employees draw upon them. Also unlike FSAs, reimbursements can be limited to amounts previously contributed. Unused balances may be carried over indefinitely, though employers may limit the aggregate carryovers. A limited, one-time rollover may be made to a Health Savings Account.

HRAs are governed by Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows health plan benefits used for medical care to be exempt from taxes, and Section 106 of the Code, which allows employer contributions to those plans to be tax-exempt. Rules regarding HRAs are spelled out in IRS revenue rulings and notices issued in 2002.4

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are tax-exempt accounts for paying medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. They can be established and contributions made only when the owner has qualifying high deductible insurance (a deductible of at least $1,100 for self-only coverage and $2,200 for family coverage, plus other criteria) and no other coverage including Medicare, with some exceptions. Contributions are limited to $2,850 for self-only coverage and $5,650 for family coverage. An additional contribution of $800 is allowed people age 55 and older. (The dollar amounts in the last several sentences are for 2007.) HSAs carry tax advantages that can be significant for some people. Contributions made by employers are exempt from income and employment taxes; account owners may deduct contributions they make. Withdrawals for medical expenses are not taxed; those used for other purposes are taxable and subject to an additional 10% penalty except in cases of disability, death, or attaining age 65. Unused balances may be carried over from year to year without limit. As of January, 2006, nearly 3.2 million people were covered by HSA-high deductible health plans. The number includes policy-holders as well as their family members.5

HSAs were first authorized by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA, P.L. 108-173). Most statutory rules are in Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, though there are important IRS revenue rulings and notices as well.6

Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) might be viewed as a restricted precursor to HSAs. Like them, MSAs can be established and contributions made only when account owners have qualifying high deductible insurance and no other coverage, with some exceptions. Contributions made by employers are exempt from income and employment taxes, while contributions made by account owners (allowed only if the employer does not contribute) are deductible. Withdrawals are not taxed if used for medical expenses; those used for other purposes are taxable and subject to an additional 15% penalty with some exceptions. Unused balances may be carried over from year to year without limit. The principal difference is that eligibility is limited to people who are self-employed or who are employees covered by a high deductible plan established by their small employer (50 or fewer employees, on average). In addition, the minimum deductible levels are higher and the contribution limits are lower. For details, see the comparison table that follows.

MSAs were first authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-191). That legislation also set a deadline for establishing new accounts and generally limited the total number to 750,000 (not counting accounts of owners who were previously uninsured, among others), though for tax year 2003 the IRS estimated there were fewer than 80,000 accounts in total. Later amendments extended the deadline for new accounts to December 31, 2007. However, most MSA owners can now have HSAs, and their MSA balances can be rolled over into the new accounts. Most statutory rules governing MSAs are in Section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code.

      Summary of General Features of FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and MSAs,

 

                                 20067

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

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 Eligibility

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      Employees whose employers offer this benefit. Former employees may be

 

 included.

 

 

      Employers not restricted by size.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      Employees whose employers offer this benefit. Former employees may be

 

 included.

 

 

      Employers not restricted by size.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Individuals with qualifying health insurance. Ineligible individuals may

 

 keep previously established accounts but cannot make contributions.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Individuals with qualifying health insurance who are employees of a small

 

 employer (50 or fewer workers) with a high deductible plan or self-employed.

 

 Ineligible individuals may keep previously established accounts but cannot

 

 make contributions.

 

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 Definition of qualifying health insurance

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      No health insurance requirements.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      No health insurance requirements, although HRAs are usually combined with

 

 high deductible health insurance.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Self-only deductible must be at least $1,100; the family

 

 deductible must be at least $2,200. Annual out-of-pocket expenses for

 

 covered benefits cannot exceed $5,500 for self-only coverage and

 

 $11,000 for family coverage. Deductible need not apply to preventive

 

 care.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Self-only deductible must be at least $1,900 but not over $2,850;

 

 the family deductible must be at least $3,750 but not over $5,650.

 

 Annual out-of-pocket expenses for covered benefits cannot exceed $3,750 and

 

 $6,900, respectively. Deductible need not apply to preventive care if absence

 

 of deductible is required by state law.

 

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Contributions

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      By employer, employee, or both. Usually funded by employee through salary

 

 reduction agreement.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      Only by employer.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      By any person on behalf of an eligible individual.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      By employer or account owner, but not both.

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Annual contribution limits

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      None required, though employers usually impose a limit.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      None required. Employers usually set their contributions below the annual

 

 deductible of the accompanying health insurance.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      $2,850 for self-only coverage and $5,650 for family

 

 coverage. Account owners 55 years old or older and not in Medicare can

 

 contribute an additional $800 in 2007.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      65% of the deductible for self-only coverage and 75% of the

 

 deductible for family coverage.

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Qualifying expenses

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      Most unreimbursed medical expenses, though employers may impose

 

 additional limitations. May not be used for long-term care or health insurance

 

 premiums.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Most unreimbursed medical expenses, though employers may impose

 

 additional limitations. May be used for long-term care and health insurance

 

 premiums, if the employer allows.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Most unreimbursed medical expenses. May be used for premiums for

 

 long-term care insurance, COBRA, health insurance for those receiving

 

 unemployment compensation under federal or state law, and health insurance

 

 (other than Medigap policies) for individuals who are 65 years of age and

 

 older.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Most unreimbursed medical expenses. May be used for premiums for

 

 long-term care insurance, COBRA, and health insurance for those receiving

 

 unemployment compensation under federal or state law.

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Allowable nonmedical withdrawals

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      None

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      None

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Permitted, subject to income tax and 10% penalty except in cases of

 

 disability, death, or attaining age 65.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Permitted, subject to income tax and 15% penalty except in cases of

 

 disability, death, or attaining age 65.

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Carryover of unused funds

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      Balances remaining at year's end (or up to 2 1/2 months after year's end,

 

 if employer permits) are forfeited to employer. A limited, one-time rollover

 

 to an HSA is allowed.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      Permitted, although some employers limit amount that can be carried over.

 

 A limited, one-time rollover to an HSA is allowed.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Full amount may be carried over indefinitely.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Full amount may be carried over indefinitely.

 

 _____________________________________________________________________________

 

 Portability

 

 

 Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

 

 

      Balances generally forfeited at termination, although COBRA extensions

 

 sometimes apply.

 

 

 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA)

 

 

      At discretion of employer, though subject to COBRA provisions.

 

 

 Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

 

 

      Portable.

 

 

 Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSA)

 

 

      Portable.

 

 ____________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Some Issues

Consumer-Driven Health Care. When the accounts discussed in this report are paired with high deductible insurance, they become what some call "consumer driven health plans" (CDHP).8 One objective of CDHPs is to allow owners to choose health care providers and services themselves, not constrained by managed care restrictions. Another is to give owners a financial incentive to save for future health care expenses in exchange for accepting the greater risk of a higher insurance deductible. In theory, CDHPs will slow health care spending and encourage cost-effective care. The extent to which these objectives will be borne out is not clear, largely because the two accounts most likely to be effective in these respects, HRAs and HSAs, are still too new to permit adequate assessment. Much depends on how high the insurance deductibles are, how much money is put into the accounts and by whom, whether accounts are used to pay for expenditures other than health care (when allowed), and whether people with accounts can make informed choices. Additional key questions are how much competition there is among health care providers and whether prices for health care goods and services are transparent.

Equity. The tax savings associated with tax-advantaged health care accounts depend on the taxpayers' marginal tax rates; for federal income taxes alone, these vary from 10% for married couples filing joint returns who have taxable incomes not exceeding $15,650 up to 35% for married couples filing joint returns who have taxable incomes over $349,700. (These figures are for the 2007 tax year; other figures apply to taxpayers with different filing status.) As a consequence, the accounts discussed in this report are more attractive for higher-income taxpayers; indeed, some consider HSAs more as a vehicle for building retirement income than paying for health care. Critics of these accounts might argue that it is unfair for public health care subsidies (the forgone tax revenue) to flow disproportionately to higher income taxpayers, particularly since they generally have more resources to spend on health care in the first place. However, if the accounts are paired with high deductible insurance, it might be argued that the tax savings are appropriate for taking on more greater financial risk and using less health care (to the extent this actually occurs). The latter arguments do not apply to FSAs when taxpayers do not have high deductible insurance; these accounts subsidize first-dollar payments for health care and may increase health care spending. As FSAs are available only through employer plans, they likely appear inequitable to taxpayers who cannot have them.

Targeted Savings Accounts. Current law provides multiple tax-advantaged savings accounts for education and retirement, as well as health care. Some argue that it would be simpler and more effective to have accounts that would be generally available for a variety of expenses, perhaps along the lines of the Retirement Savings Account and the Lifetime Savings Account that President Bush has proposed. On November 1, 2005, the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform recommended that MSAs, HSAs, and FSAs be replaced by new Save for Family accounts that could be used for health care and education expenses; these would have $10,000 annual contribution limits.

 

FOOTNOTES

 

 

1 For Additional general information, see Internal Revenue Service publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, available at [http://www.irs.gov].

2 Section 125 governs cafeteria plans; it provides an express exception to the constructive receipt rule, which requires taxation of what is normally nontaxable income when taxpayers have the choice of receiving taxable income or nontaxable income.

3 FSA rules are available at 49 Federal Register 19321 and 50733; 54 FR 9460, 65 FR 15548; and 66 FR 1837. Also see IRS Revenue Ruling 2003-102. For data on the use of FSAs, see CRS Report RL32656, Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts, by Chris L. Peterson and Bob Lyke.

4 IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-41 and Notice 2002-45.

5 The number is based on a survey by America's Health Insurance Plans. See CRS Report RS22417, Data on Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost-Sharing in HSA-Qualified Health Plans, by Chris L. Peterson.

6 For additional information, see CRS Report RL33257, Health Savings Accounts: Overview of Rules for 2007, by Bob Lyke.

7 Rules are expressed in general terms. Not all details are shown.

8 HSA and MSA plans require high deductible insurance when contributions are made, though owners can retain accounts after switching to plans with lower deductibles. There is no legal requirement for HRAs to be associated with high deductible coverage, though they usually are. FSAs do not require high deductible insurance.

 

END OF FOOTNOTES
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Lyke, Bob
    Peterson, Chris L.
  • Institutional Authors
    Congressional Research Service
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2007-1848
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2007 TNT 16-32
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