Health Savings Account FAQs

1. What is a Health Savings Account?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a before taxes payroll deduction that goes into a special checking account that you can set up in combination with a high deductible health plan (HDHP). It is tax-free money that you set aside for medical expenses.

2. How does it work?

Once the HSA is set up you can arrange through your employer to have a before taxes amount deducted from your paycheck to begin funding your HSA. The amount you have deducted should be calculated to cover most or all of your portion of the deductible medical expenses under your HDHP. Medical expenses can be paid using free debit card access to your HSA or checks supplied with the account. The funds in the HSA are yours, including any amount that your employer may contribute. You do not lose your HSA funds if you do not use them. Your HSA can accumulate and earn interest until you retire. You can no longer contribute after you retire, but the money is still available for your medical expenses.

3. Is it really tax-free?

Yes. An HSA is 100% tax-free, meaning that you will save about 30% on your self-paid medical expenses, since you are not paying any taxes on the amount being deducted from your paycheck to fund your HSA.

4. What does it cost me to start an HSA?

There are no monthly or annual fees with Pathways HSAs. There is a one-time $5.00 enrollment fee to establish a new HSA. Also, since you are joining the credit union you must maintain a minimum $5.00 share balance in a separate savings account connected to the HSA. This is not a fee — it is your money and represents your share of credit union ownership. So your total up front expense is a minimum of $10.00. To avoid a $2.00 monthly mailed paper statement fee, we suggest you sign up for e-statements, which are always free. You will have unlimited free debit card access to your HSA, but if you use checks to pay for your medical expenses there will be a $0.50 charge to your account each time a check clears. Pathways HSAs are designed to be as low cost as possible with no monthly or annual fees, and by selecting e-statements and using your debit card to pay for medical expenses you can effectively avoid any ongoing fees.

5. Will my HSA earn dividends?

Yes. Pathways will pay interest on your HSA balance beginning when deposits reach $250.00. The rate will vary depending on current bank rates.

6. What kinds of medical expenses can I use my HSA for?

IRS Publication 502 outlines the permissible medical expenses when using HSA funds. Generally, most routine medical expenses, such as doctor visits and pharmaceuticals are allowed when using your HSA funds.

7. How do I open an HSA at Pathways?

You will be asked to fill out a membership application at your local branch of Pathways and debit/check order request. To enable the tax-free benefit you must complete the HSA Custodial Application 2600H-C. Also, to join the credit union you will need to provide a copy of a government-issued photo ID, typically a driver’s license. You will find all of this information in the enrollment packet provided at the time of enrollment by your employer, your health insurance representative, or Pathways.

8. When will I receive my debit card and checks?

Your free check order will arrive in a welcome packet a few days after your HSA application arrives at Pathways. Your new HSA debit card will arrive within about 10 days after your application is processed by the credit union. A randomly generated Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be sent to your home address several days before your debit card arrives. This PIN is needed to activate your new card, so be on the lookout for it and make sure you keep it in a safe place until your card arrives. Once you receive your HSA debit card and call the number to activate it, you will be prompted to change your PIN to something you can easily remember.

9. What is the authorization limit on my HSA debit card?

Your debit card will authorize up to $2,000 per 24 hours to pay for medical expenses.

10. What happens if I don’t activate my HSA debit card?

Of course, you will not be able to use your debit card to pay for medical expenses if you don’t activate your card. The other problem is that if the debit card is not activated it will not automatically renew upon expiration.

11. How do I sign up for E-statements?

Once you have your new HSA account number (you will receive this in a welcome packet in the mail), you can log-on to your account in online banking and click the E-statements tab. The process only takes a few seconds and is outlined in the welcome packet sent to you. E-statements are always free — paper statements are $2.00 per month.

12. What happens if I don’t access my HSA?

After 1 year of no activity on your account you could encounter a dormancy fee. To avoid this fee, make at least one deposit or withdrawal each six months.

13. How will my taxes be affected by my HSA?

Each year postmarked by January 31st you will receive a form 1099-SA from Pathways which will list all medical transactions authorized from your HSA throughout the preceding year. The 1099-SA must be accounted for in your tax return. Each year, you will receive a form, 5498-SA which sums all contributions made to your account from January 1 through April 15 of the current year. For more information, you may wish to consult with a tax advisor.

14. What if I use my HSA for non-medical expenses?

A tax-free HSA is intended by the IRS to be used only for medical expenses. If it is determined that your HSA funds were used for non-medical expenses (such as gas in your car or dining out at a restaurant), you will be assessed a 20% penalty and will be required to pay back taxes on the funds used.

15. What if I pay for a medical expense without using my HSA? Can I be reimbursed?

Yes. You can reimburse yourself by writing a check from your HSA account. Or, you can call any branch of Pathways and ask for a check to be sent to you as a reimbursement from your HSA. The important thing is to keep a receipt from the transaction to show that you were being reimbursed for a qualified medical expense.

16. Who do I call if I have a health insurance question about my HSA?

Contact your health insurance provider or the broker who represents your health insurance provider with any health insurance questions. Contact Pathways if the question directly involves the funds in your HSA checking account. Pathways Financial Credit Union is a financial institution with no connection to your health insurance provider.

17. What is Shared Branching?

As a member of Pathways you may choose to make in-person deposits or withdrawals from any of our convenient locations in Central Ohio. Because Pathways belongs to the Shared Branching Network, there are over 40 other credit union branches in the Central Ohio area where you can access your Pathways account(s). There is no fee for shared branching — it is a convenience offered by your credit union and available to you after 90 days of membership. To take advantage of shared branching when you are at another credit union just tell the credit union representative that you would like to make a Shared Branching transaction. You will need your Pathways HSA account number and your driver’s license.

18. Can I use other credit union services besides the HSA?

Yes! You will become a member of Pathways and will have access to all of our products and services, including auto loans, home mortgages, money market accounts, credit cards, online banking, free checking accounts, and more.