Category Archives for Blog
Introducing COBRA and Betty the Benefactress!
Hey folks. It’s a tough job being a benefits superhero. Not only do you have to be knowledgeable, but you also have to be ready at a moment’s notice. You never know when someone will need a hand. Fact
Continue readingCOBRA Insurance: 5 Important Things to Know
When it comes to employer-sponsored group health plans, COBRA insurance acts as a safety net for American workers. If you have a qualifying event that causes you to lose coverage, COBRA makes sure that
Continue readingMaximize Your FSA with Your FSA Debit Card
It’s no secret – using a debit (or credit) card is super convenient. You can use them just about anywhere and for just about anything. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, clothing shops, doctors’
Continue readingHaving an HRA and HSA: The Best of Both Worlds
As the popularity of consumer directed healthcare (CDH) accounts rises, people want to know how they can get the most value out of them. When it comes to two pieces of the CDH puzzle, one frequently asked
Continue readingHSA Funding – Do You Know About This Trick?
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are very popular among those with high deductible health plans (HDHPs). A person enrolled in a qualified HDHP can open an HSA and use the account to cover a large variety
Continue readingTips to Help You Become a Better Healthcare Consumer
What is a healthcare consumer? For many people, the term patient comes to mind. The terms are nearly synonymous, but there are some slight differences – mainly cost considerations and amount of involvement.
Continue readingHealth and Wellness Holiday Tips to Help Maximize FSA and HSA Benefits in 2018
It’s the holiday season and we all know what that means. Many of us are letting loose, shopping, cleaning the house, preparing rich, delicious foods for get-togethers. Not only are we trying to enjoy
Continue reading“When Can I Open an HSA?” and other HSA FAQs
When people learn about Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), they have a lot of questions. One of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about HSAs is, “When can I open an HSA?” I have an answer
Continue readingFAQ: Can I have an FSA and HSA at the same time?
For Health Savings Account (HSA) owners, a common question is, “Can I have an FSA and HSA at the same time?” Generally speaking, you cannot have a health Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and
Continue reading6 Ways to Spend Use-It-or-Lose-It FSA Dollars
There are just over four weeks left in 2017! If you still have money in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), the end of most plan years are quickly coming to an end. Now is a good time to put the remaining
Continue reading5 Reasons You Should Sign Up for a Benefits Debit Card
If your company sponsors Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Transit/Commuter benefit accounts, you may be given the option during
Continue readingHSA Contributions, Distributions, and Penalties
For those people who are enrolled in a high deductible healthcare plan (HDHP), you either own a Health Savings Account (HSA) or hopefully are considering one. HSAs provide participants with several significant
Continue reading2018 FSA Contribution Limits, Transportation and QSEHRA Benefit Increases
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published the updated 2018 contribution limits for health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Transportation benefits, and Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement
Continue readingFSA: Use it or Lose it, Carryover, Grace Period and Run Out
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) – if you signed up for one, chances are you’ve heard a few terms that you may or may not be familiar with. FSAs are great tools for helping you save money
Continue readingDependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) – Eligibility, Expenses, and More!
Hey, parents! Let’s talk about Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, also known as a Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP). I’ll cover contribution limits, dependent requirements, eligible
Continue readingWhich is Better: an FSA or HSA?
A common question people ask at enrollment meetings is Which is better: an FSA or HSA? The answer to this question is not as simple as it seems. The two accounts are very similar, but they have some major
Continue readingHow Much Should I Put In My FSA? (Or HSA?)
Enrollment season is here which means you’re probably wondering, “How much should I put in my FSA?” or “How much should I contribute to my HSA?” Budgeting for medical expenses
Continue reading2018 HSA Contribution Limits, Minimum Deductibles, and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
HSA owners, rejoice! 2018 HSA contribution limits are going up, as are maximum out-of-pocket expenses and minimum deductibles. Here’s a quick overview and chart of the 2018 HSA parameters. On May
Continue readingFSA, HRA, HSA Benefits Debit Card – Convenient and Secure
Card payments are part of everyday life. No matter where you go – doctors’ offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, retail shops, taxis, subway stations, and more – you can use a credit or
Continue reading9 FSA Eligible Expenses You May Not Know About
With a healthcare FSA, your pre-tax money covers a wide range of common medical expenses. These include doctor visits, surgery and other medical procedures, prescription medicines, as well as dental and
Continue readingTake Care of Back-to-School Preparations with Your FSA or HSA
August is here, which means the school year is right around the corner. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), you can use them to help pay for some back-to-school
Continue readingHRA Overview: Contributions, Qualified Expenses, Portability and More
Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are employer-sponsored benefit plans that allow employees to withdraw tax-free money to pay for qualified medical expenses. This HRA overview provides valuable
Continue readingCommuter Benefits Accounts – Tax Relief, Reimbursements, Qualified Expenses, and More!
Do you commute to and from work in a personal vehicle, using public transportation, or on a bike? Chances are you answered “yes.” Check with your HR department to see if your company offers
Continue readingWant to Grow Your HSA? Try Investing
Attention, HSA owners! While HSAs earn tax-free interest, interest rates are at historic lows. There is, however, another way to grow your account quickly. Consider investing your HSA funds to see substantial
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