Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) - What is it?

Introduction to Health Reimbursement Arrangements

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or HRA, is an IRS approved, employer-funded, tax advantaged employer health benefit plan that reimburses employees for out of pocket medical expenses and individual health insurance premiums. A health reimbursement arrangement is not health insurance. A health reimbursement arrangement allows the employer to make contributions to an employee's account and provide reimbursement for eligible expenses. A health reimbursement arrangement is an excellent way to supplement health insurance benefits and allow employees to pay for a wide range of medical expenses not covered by insurance.  It is often referred to (incorrectly) as a health reimbursement account.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements are Notional

Health reimbursement arrangements are notional arrangements; no funds are expensed until reimbursements are paid. Through health reimbursement arrangements, employers reimburse employees directly only after the employees incur approved medical expenses.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements have no Annual Limits

Unlike a Health Savings Account (HSA), there is no limit to the amount of money an employer can contribute to an employee’s health reimbursement arrangement.

Health Reimbursement Arrangement Eligible Expenses

A health reimbursement arrangement may reimburse any expense considered to be a qualified medical expense under IRS Section 213 of the Code, including premiums for personal health insurance policies. Within IRS guidelines, employers may restrict the list of reimbursable expenses in any way they choose.

Health Reimbursement Arrangements Allow Annual Rollover

Health reimbursement arrangement balances may roll forward from year to year. Employers can design the program not to allow balances to rollover from one year to the next. However, limiting the rollover feature defeats a key health reimbursement arrangement advantage. Employers may allow employees to have access to their health reimbursement arrangement accounts after retirement. However, employers may not pay/distribute cash or other benefit balance to any employee.

Health Reimbursement Arrangement Administration Reporting Features

HRA Administration Reporting features make real-time monitoring of health reimbursement arrangement liabilities, reimbursements and utilization easy. Employers can change plan benefits at any time or cancel the entire plan at any time. Further, health reimbursement arrangements allow employers to establish plan-year maximum reimbursements for any given category of expense (e.g., dental) and to establish a maximum balance that any participant class may hold at a time.

Note: This should not be taken as legal or tax advice.