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HSA Enrollment Help

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Health Savings Account FAQs

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What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

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How do I open an HSA through Highmark?

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How do I manage my existing HSA?

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What are HSA eligibility requirements?

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What are HSA contribution policies?

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Can I transfer funds from any other investment to my HSA?

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Are there any restrictions on my HSA program?

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Are there any fees for this HSA?

What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an account that can be used to pay current medical expenses as well as to provide for future qualified medical expenses on a tax-advantaged basis. Contributions, earnings and distributions are exempt from federal income and Social Security (FICA) taxes when used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Visit www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa for detailed information about HSA regulations.

How do I open an HSA through Highmark?

Your BlueAccount HSA is easy to set up and offers the convenience of immediate access to information and account setup via your Highmark member Web site. If you are a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield member, or once you become a member, simply:

Log on to your member Web site at www.highmarkbcbs.com
Choose the "Your Spending" tab at the top of the page
Select the "Spending Account" link
Choose "Open a Health Savings Account" to get more information on investment choices and directions for establishing your account.

If you do not have immediate access to the Web site, call this toll-free number, 1-877-245-0116, identify yourself as a GuideStone member and ask for the GuideStone HSA Application Package.

Your application materials will include detailed information on the available GuideStone Funds. You’ll get everything you need to open your account. You’ll be able to indicate how you want to contribute to your account. Your employer may offer automatic payroll deduction, or you may contribute to your account on your own through check payments or direct deductions.

How do I manage my existing HSA?

To help you manage your BlueAccount HSA, simply log on to www.highmarkbcbs.com where you will be able to check account balances as well as view deposits and a history of your transactions — everything you need to manage your account!

For additional tips and instructions, please visit our page dedicated to managing your existing HSA account.

What are HSA eligibility requirements?

See specific eligibility questions below:

Who is eligible to contribute to an HSA?

To be eligible to open or contribute to an HSA, you must be enrolled in a federally qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) like the Health Saver 2600.

You cannot be:

Covered by any health plan other than a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (dental and vision plans are not included in this restriction);
Enrolled in Medicare; or
Claimed as a dependent on another individual’s tax return.

When does eligibility for an HSA begin and end?

You can establish an HSA on the first day of the month that you have a High Deductible Health Plan and are otherwise an eligible individual. If you obtain a High Deductible Health Plan after the first of the month, you are not eligible to establish or contribute to the HSA until the first day of the following month.

You lose eligibility to establish or contribute to an HSA if:

Covered by any health plan other than a qualified High Deductible Health Plan (dental and vision plans are not included in this restriction);
Enrolled in Medicare; or
Claimed as a dependent on another individual’s tax return

However, losing eligibility does not necessarily mean you lose your HSA if the account is already established. You can keep the HSA and continue to use the funds on a tax-preferred basis for qualified medical expenses. You cannot continue contributing to the HSA or establish another HSA unless you become an eligible individual again.

What can the HSA be used for on a tax-preferred basis?

The HSA can be used for “qualified medical expenses,” as defined by the IRS in Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Broadly speaking, these are health care expenses for the prevention and treatment of health conditions, including dental and vision expenses. They exclude services that are cosmetic in nature.

In addition, you can use the HSA to pay for certain types of health insurance premiums, including:

Qualified long-term care insurance.
COBRA health care continuation insurance.
Health care coverage while receiving unemployment compensation.
Premiums for Medicare Parts A and B, a Medicare HMO or your share of employer-sponsored health insurance.
Note: Premiums for Medicare supplemental (Medigap) policies are not qualified expenses.

You cannot use the HSA to pay for services already reimbursed elsewhere, such as through your health plan. In other words, you could use it to pay for expenses attributable to your deductible or to your portion of any coinsurance, but not for amounts paid by your health plan after the deductible is met.

Whose responsibility is it to ensure that I am eligible for an HSA, to monitor the contributions limits and to use the funds for qualified medical expenses?

As the taxpayer, you are responsible. Neither the health plan, your employer, nor the HSA custodian has any obligation to verify that you are using your HSA in accordance with the law. You should consult your tax advisor to ensure that you understand HSAs and your eligibility.

What are HSA contribution policies?

How much can be contributed to an HSA?
The maximum amount you may contribute each calendar year to your HSA is the maximum set by the IRS. In 2007, the IRS maximum is $2,850 for an individual with High Deductible Health Plan coverage only for himself/herself or $5,650 for all persons with High Deductible Health Plan coverage for a family.

Effective January 1, 2008, the IRS maximum will be $2,900 for an individual with High Deductible Health Plan coverage only for himself/herself or $5,800 for all persons with High Deductible Health Plan coverage for a family.

Once you are no longer an eligible individual — e.g., you lose your High Deductible Health Plan or acquire other coverage in addition to your High Deductible Health Plan — you can no longer contribute to your HSA but you can maintain it and use it for distributions.

How are the contribution limits determined for an individual?

Under previous regulations, participants who opened an HSA mid-year were limited to prorated contributions for the remainder of the year. However, new legislation allows these participants to contribute up to the applicable annual maximum. These participants must maintain qualified High Deductible Health Plan coverage for a full year beginning the month the HSA is opened or pay tax on the HSA contributions and incur a 10% penalty.

Do I have to contribute the maximum?

You can contribute any amount up to the maximum. Your HSA account will include minimum requirements for initial and/or ongoing deposits.

When can contributions be made?

Contributions can be made at any time during the tax year, up to the filing limit for your federal income tax return. Contributions can be made on a periodic basis (e.g., monthly) or in one lump sum.

Can I transfer funds from any other investment to my HSA?

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Heath Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs)
Yes, one time only. Employees can start an HSA by making a one-time tax-free transfer of unused Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) funds* to open an HSA. Transfer amounts from FSAs or HRAs cannot exceed the lesser of (1) the balance in the health FSA or HRA as of September 21, 2006; or (2) the balance of the health FSA or HRA as of the date of the transfer. The transfer must be made before Jan. 1, 2012.

*If allowed by the employer. Check with your Human Resources department to see if your employer is willing to allow you to use HRA funds to open your HSA.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Participants can make a one-time-only distribution from an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) to an HSA without penalty or tax. Distributions cannot exceed the applicable annual maximum HSA contribution limits.

Are there any restrictions on my HSA program?

Generally, the money in your account is yours to manage as you deem appropriate. Some restrictions do apply to the HSA that’s available to GuideStone members through Highmark’s BlueAccount.

Available funds: Only the specified funds made available by GuideStone Funds* can be selected in your HSA. These funds are:
    - Medium-Duration Bond Fund — GS6 share class.
    - GuideStone Conservative Allocation Fund — GS6 share class.
    - GuideStone Balanced Allocation Fund — GS6 share class.
    - GuideStone Growth Allocation Fund — GS6 share class.
    - GuideStone Aggressive Allocation Fund — GS6 share class.
Minimum investment: You must have at least $500 in the checking account before you can invest in mutual fund options.
Distributions: You are not required to maintain a $500 balance in the checking account, but distributions can only be made from this account. If you have money in mutual funds, you are responsible for transferring funds to the checking account if additional funds are needed to cover your reimbursement request.
Minimum balance: Your HSA must have a minimum balance of $50 for as long as you maintain it. A request for reimbursement that reduces your account balance below this amount will be adjusted in order to keep the required minimum.
Contribution limits: Deposits to your account must be at least $25.

*GuideStone offers HSAs provided by Highmark^®Blue Cross Blue Shield. The HSAs use registered mutual funds as their funding vehicles. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the funds carefully before investing. A prospectus with this and other information about the Funds may be obtained by calling 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433) or by downloading a prospectus (pdf). The prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Shares of the Funds are distributed by PFPC Distributors, Inc., King of Prussia, PA.

Are there any fees for this HSA?

There is an administration fee of $3.25 a month. This fee will be deducted automatically from the HSA mid-month.
The mutual funds within the HSA have their own expenses, as described in the prospectus. You can review the prospectus online, call 1-877-245-0116 and request a GuideStone HSA Application Package.
The HSA custodian or its affiliated agency may withhold and retain an amount of up to 1.25% (on an annualized basis) of the interest rate payable on your daily balance in the Deposit Account as compensation for maintaining the Deposit Account on behalf of HSA account owners.

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