Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General
What is an HRA?
A health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) is a tax-free savings account for qualified healthcare costs, including retiree and Medicare premiums, you pay out of pocket.
How do I benefit from having an HRA?
You benefit by having an account you can use to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, including retiree insurance premiums. Plus, you get to enjoy “triple” tax savings: (1) no taxes on contributions; (2) no taxes on investment earnings (if any); and (3) no taxes on claim reimbursements (withdrawals). That's the best possible tax advantage—even better than tax-deferred 457, 403(b), and 401(k) plans with taxable withdrawals.
How is my HRA different from a health savings account (HSA) or healthcare flexible spending account (FSA)?
All three types of accounts reimburse medical expenses, but there are several differences. Here are three of the main ones: (1) HSAs and FSAs have annual contribution limits, your HRA does not; (2) HSAs require enrollment in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), your HRA does not; and (3) FSAs have annual use-or-lose and/or carryover limits, your HRA does not.
Plan Information
When can I start using my HRA?
You can use your HRA money right away or save it up for later, such as during retirement. Your claims eligibility date will be: (1) the date specified by your employer upon enrollment; or (2) the date upon which we have received both your enrollment and a contribution from your employer.
Who is eligible for benefits?
Your HRA covers you, your spouse, and dependents. This includes your young-adult children through the end of the calendar year in which they turn age 26.
Read our Who's Covered handout for more details. To get a copy, log in and click Resources.
Do I have to use my HRA funds right away?
No, your unused HRA balance carries over from year to year. There are no “use-or-lose” rules or annual carryover limits.
How can I check my HRA balance and account information?
Log in online or through our mobile app, HRAgo®. Your available account balance and other information will be displayed or easily accessible from the landing page.
What happens if I change employers, go on a leave of absence, or retire?
Your HRA is yours to keep until funds are exhausted, subject to your employer’s vesting requirements, if any.
What happens if I pass away?
If you pass away, your HRA can transfer to your surviving spouse and dependents.
For more details, read our What Happens if I Pass Away? handout.
What are the plan administrative fees?
Plan administrative fees usually include a flat monthly account fee and an annualized asset-based percentage fee. Plan administrative fees are listed on your account statements.
To the extent permitted or required by law, certain fees, assessments, or other amounts payable to the federal government may also be deducted from participant accounts.
Online Access
How do I register online?
Just click here to open the login window. Then, click the Register button and follow the onscreen instructions.
Is there a mobile app I can use?
Yes, it’s called HRAgo®. After registering online, download the app from the App Store or Google Play. With HRAgo®, you can do almost everything “on the go.” This includes checking your account balance, submitting claims, and snapping and uploading pics of supporting documentation for claims and debit card transactions.
Contributions
How is my HRA funded?
Your employer sends tax-free money to your HRA. This money may come from a sick leave cash out, vacation cash out, mandatory employee contribution, or some other source. In many cases, these funds would have otherwise been paid to you as taxable income. Your employer might also contribute funds in place of some other tax-free employee benefit.
Investment Options
What are the investment options?
An available menu of investment options lets you choose how your HRA balance is invested. The quarterly Investment Fund Overview (or similar document) for your plan contains historical performance data for each option. To get a copy, log in and click Resources.
At the time of enrollment, your HRA balance is invested in your plan’s default investment until you choose something else.
How can I change my investment allocation?
Just log in online or from our mobile app, HRAgo®, and click Investments. Changes are allowed once per month. You should consult with a professional financial advisor and carefully read the fund prospectuses and fact sheets before making investment decisions.
Claims
How do I file a claim?
Log in online or from our mobile app, HRAgo®, and click Claims. Be prepared to upload proper supporting documentation (proof) for each expense (IRS requirement). You can file claims at any time for expenses incurred on or after your claims eligibility date.
What type of documentation is required?
Usually the Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company works best and has everything we need. If you don’t have one of those, ask your healthcare provider for an itemized invoice. They should be familiar with what we need. Most expenses require these five pieces of information:
Patient name (you, your spouse, or dependent);
Date you received the medical care or purchased a qualified healthcare item;
Service provider name (doctor, pharmacy, clinic, or hospital);
Description of the service or item; and
Amount you paid or owe out of pocket.
How long does it take to process a claim?
Standard claims processing takes five to seven business days.
How are claims payments issued?
Payment is issued by direct deposit (if set up) or paper check. Direct deposit is more secure and faster than waiting for paper checks in the mail. To set up direct deposit, log in and click My Profile.
What types of medical care expenses can be reimbursed?
Expenses must qualify under Section 213(d) of Internal Revenue Code. Common examples include doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, vision, orthodontia, chiropractic, medical equipment, emergency services, and hundreds more.
Qualified premiums include amounts paid for medical, dental, and vision insurance, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Supplement coverage. Reimbursement of tax-qualified long-term care insurance premiums is subject to annual IRS limits. These limits are indexed to inflation and updated annually.
Qualified premiums deducted from your paycheck after taxes are eligible, unless your employer offers a pre-tax option. Premiums deducted from your spouse’s paycheck after taxes may be eligible. Premiums deducted from a pension benefit or paid directly are generally eligible. Marketplace exchange premiums subsidized by the Premium Tax Credit cannot be reimbursed.
For more details, read our What's Covered handout. Certain limitations may apply.
Can my retiree premiums be reimbursed automatically?
Yes, we can automatically reimburse most monthly insurance premiums, including Medicare premiums. Just log in, click Claims, then click Set Up an Automatic Premium Reimbursement. You can also do this from our mobile app, HRAgo®. If you’d rather use a paper form, download and print our Automatic Premium Reimbursement form.
Debit Card
Do you offer a debit card?
Yes, our OneBridge Visa® Benefits Card lets you instantly pay for qualified medical expenses directly from your HRA. Just swipe your card to pay for things like office visits, prescriptions, lab work, hospital stays, and dental and vision services.
How can I get a debit card?
Debit cards are mailed to all new participants upon enrollment. If you need to request an additional or replacement card, you can do it online or contact our Customer Care Center.
Why do I have to sometimes provide documentation when I use my debit card?
The IRS requires us to verify that every debit card payment is for a qualified medical expense. We can usually do this from the electronic transaction data we receive. If not, we’ll let you know right away by mail, email, or through our mobile app, HRAgo®.
The OneBridge Visa® Benefits Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used for qualified expenses wherever Visa debit cards are accepted. See Cardholder Agreement for details.
Coordination with Other Benefits
Can I have a healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) and an HRA?
Yes, but you must (and should) use up your healthcare FSA funds before using your HRA funds. Healthcare FSA funds are subject to annual use-or-lose or carryover limitations.
Can I have a health savings account (HSA) and an HRA?
Yes, and you can use either one in any order (no ordering rules). However, if your HRA is fully claims eligible, you and any other covered individuals are ineligible for HSA contributions. To qualify for HSA contributions, you must elect “limited HRA coverage.” You must also be covered by a qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and have no other first-dollar coverage.
Only HDHP premiums and dental, vision, and orthodontia expenses and premiums may be reimbursed from your HRA while it’s limited for HSA contribution purposes. You can switch back to full HRA coverage after you stop making or receiving HSA contributions. Certain limitations may apply.
How does my HRA coordinate with Medicare?
Medicare should be primary if you are no longer working for the employer who set up your HRA. Make sure we have your separation date on file. Log in online and look inside the box with your account balance. If you don’t see your separation date, please provide it to us. Click the envelope icon at the top right of your screen to use our Secure Messaging Center, or contact our Customer Care Center.
Medicare is usually secondary if your HRA is fully claims eligible and you’re still working for the employer who set it up. This means your HRA is primary, and you must use it all before Medicare will pay claims. Medicare can even take your HRA funds to cover prior Medicare claims.
To protect your HRA, you can elect “limited HRA coverage” for you and/or any other covered individual on Medicare. This will make Medicare primary while you’re still working. Only Medicare, Medicare Supplement, dental, vision, orthodontia, and long-term care expenses and premiums may be reimbursed from your HRA while it’s limited for Medicare coordination purposes. When you stop working, you can switch your HRA back to full coverage, and Medicare will remain primary.
To learn more, read our Medicare Coordination and Your HRA handout.
How can I qualify for the Premium Tax Credit (subsidy)?
If your HRA is fully claims eligible and you want to qualify for the Premium Tax Credit, you may need to elect “limited HRA coverage” or use up your remaining HRA balance. There are other Premium Tax Credit eligibility requirements you must meet. Go to Eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit on the IRS’s website to get the basics.
Only dental, vision, orthodontia, and long-term care expenses and premiums may be reimbursed from your HRA while it’s limited for Premium Tax Credit purposes.
To learn more, read our Premium Tax Credit and Your HRA handout.
How do I elect “limited HRA coverage?”
Use our Limited HRA Coverage Election form. Submit your completed form as instructed on the form. Complete and submit a new form when you’re ready to switch back to full HRA coverage.
Forms are available online. Log in and click Resources.
More Information
Where can I find more detailed information if I need it?
The Plan Summary contains more detailed information. If you need a copy, log in and click Resources, or contact our Customer Care Center.