I will be enrolled in a high deductible health insurance plan from January 1, 2013 until April 1, 2013 when I go on Medicare.  
 
Can I make an HSA contribution in 2013 and if so how much? 
 
Thanks 
JW

Yes you can. Your 2013 contribution can be 3/12 of the full year allowable contribution. The amount depends on whether you are single or have family coverage.

Who is eligible for the over 55 catch-up? Can it be the husband or the wife? What if the husband is over 55 and the wife is not yet 55?

question, if an employee is covered by his employers group hsa plan, and also has a section 125 plan can he use the private medical premium portion of the plan to pay for his dependents private health insurance pre tax.

<<can he use the private medical premium portion of the plan to pay for his dependents private health insurance pre tax.>>  
 
Most likely not. These group-based Section 125 POP plans are typically set up for specific group health plans.

I retired when I was 52. At that time my wife and I started a joint (family)MSA. I have been on Medicare for over since 2008 (As of 1/1/13, I am 69 years old. My wife (as of 1/1/13) is 64 years old. What is the max we can contribute to our current HSA?

HSA catch-up contributions (age 55 or older) 
$1,000 - 2012 
$1,000 - 2013 
 
Source: IRS.gov

Do I need a special Health Insurance Plan designated as HSA to utilize a Health Savings Account? We are applying for a new individual family policy and likely to select a high deductible plan. Just asking if our Health Plan has to be designated to be compatible w/ the HSA account - or not really.  
Thank you.

In order to make contributions to an HSA in a tax year, you must have an HSA-qualified plan. However, (if you have made contributions in previous tax years), you do not need to maintain an HSA plan to access the previously contributed funds.

I have recently turned 65 and am now covered by Medicare as my primary insurer. My wife will not be Medicare eligible for 5 more years. She is still covered by a HDHP which meets the criteria for HSA eligibility. Can she contribute to our existing HSA account and use it for her qualified medical expenses? Can I use the HSA so long as she is making the contributions?

Hi Gary, I recommend directing this question to your HSA provider to ensure it is answered correctly. 
 
Here's another resource you may find helpful: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Publication-969,-Health-Savings-Accounts-and-Other-Tax-Favored-Health-Plans

I am covered by an individual HSA at work, and my wife and kids have a seperate HSA family coverage, would our total limit be $6450, or can she max to that limit and I max to my $3250. Total $9700

I am covered by an HSA at work but did not sign up for it at open enrollment. Can I sign up for a private one now in the middle of January?

I have a HSA. Can I use some of my contributions to pay premiums on a Long Term Care Insurance Policy?

My company gave us the option this year for a high deductible insurance plan with an HSA. After some consideration I chose this plan. I recently received a letter that I was denied the HSA account. My employer nor the provider can tell me why. Is this uncommon? Can you be denied an HSA? I do meet all the requirements.

<< I am covered by an individual HSA at work, and my wife and kids have a seperate HSA family coverage, would our total limit be $6450, or can she max to that limit and I max to my $3250. Total $9700>>  
 
It sounds like your limit would be the family limit, unless you qualify for catch up contributions. I recommend contacting your HSA provider. 
 
<<I am covered by an HSA at work but did not sign up for it at open enrollment. Can I sign up for a private one now in the middle of January?>>  
 
Likely, yes. However, you may be required to make individual contributions (i.e. you won't receive the payroll tax deduction). I recommend contacting an HSA provider directly and explaining the situation. 
 
<<I have a HSA. Can I use some of my contributions to pay premiums on a Long Term Care Insurance Policy?>>  
 
According to IRS Publication 969, "you cannot treat insurance premiums as qualified medical expenses unless the premiums are for: 
 
1. Long-term care insurance. 
 
2. Health care continuation coverage (such as coverage under COBRA). 
 
3. Health care coverage while receiving unemployment compensation under federal or state law. 
 
4. Medicare and other health care coverage if you were 65 or older (other than premiums for a Medicare supplemental policy, such as Medigap). 
 
The premiums for long-term care insurance (item (1)) that you can treat as qualified medical expenses are subject to limits based on age and are adjusted annually. See Limit on long-term care premiums you can deduct in the instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040)" 
 
<<My company gave us the option this year for a high deductible insurance plan with an HSA. After some consideration I chose this plan. I recently received a letter that I was denied the HSA account. My employer nor the provider can tell me why. Is this uncommon? Can you be denied an HSA? I do meet all the requirements.>>  
 
The primary reason HSA providers deny accounts is that they believe you to be ineligible for the current tax year (for a number of reasons). I recommend contacting another HSA provider and explaining the situation. Also, get a CPA involved if you can. 

In 2013 having a prescription I obtained a Shingles Vaccine at local pharmacy. Note: Pharmacy advised a prescription was "not required". Not having either my Health Savings checkbook or card, I paid for this vaccine via personal credit card. 
 
Will it be legal for me to pay for this vaccine to my personal credit card using a HSA check? 
 
THANKS!

I have just started my HSA this year. If I put in the max contribution limit for a family plan ($6450), can I deduct the difference between my out of pocket max ($10,000) and the contribution limit and put that $3550 on my 1040 Schedule A? (not that I think it will be able to be written off since it now has to be 10% of income, but just curious...)

Vinson - I recommend checking with your HSA administrator. They should have an answers that is more specific to your personal situation.  
 
A Gartlan - as long as you have not already deducted those expenses, you should be able to can count them toward your schedule A medical expense deduction. I.e. you can't double dip on any expenses.

I am enrolled in my medical plan (not high deductible) and my husband medical plan ( is high deductible). We have a HSA. Can I use the HSA to pay for my co pay if I use my medical plan?

The deductible on my EOB is separated into two categories. It says $1000, then $250 under Physical Medicine. The out-of-pocket is $3000. I'm 61, retired, and my former employer pays the premium for my health insurance. Am I eligible for an HSA?

Being retired, I considered our HSA monies "the last to be spent" as were tax free - sounded good! However, service charges began exceeding the interest received on the account. And yes, I did move the account several times only to find such eventually re-occuring. Just sign of the times "low interest rates" and service charges so will be spending down to close account.

i am 66 but not yet on Medicare as I am still working. Can I still contribute? thank you.

If a subscriber with family enrollment is eligible for an HSA but their spouse does not meet the eligibility requirements (e.g., has other non-HDHP coverage), does this mean the subscriber cannot have an HSA or do the eligibility requirements only apply to the subscriber?

Last year I had an HSA with my employer and left the company mid year. I assumed my payroll dedcutions (contributions) by both me and employer were pre-tax. But what if I contributed (cash) initially to establish the account as I was a new employee and had doctors appts, expenses,etc. Is my cash contribution (i.e., after tax) and the pre-tax payroll deducts. subject to 100% income tax deduction on annual contributions(including cash contributions?).

Is the catch up contribution allowed only after you are age 55 or in the year that you turn 55?

@ Karen 
 
Are you on an HSA qualified high deductible plan through an employer? 
 
You can continue to use the money already in the account tax-free for uninsured medical expenses. But you can no longer make new contributions to your health savings account after you sign up for Medicare. 
 
 
@ Vanessa @ Ellen 
Good question. I personally am in a similar situation. As a result, I only contribute to single portion. I recommend contacting a CPA (or HSA provider) for your specific situation. 
 
@ Lisa 
This information should be available on your W-2.  
 
@ Brian 
 
Individuals age 55 and over can make catch-up contributions

IF THE MONEY IN THE HSA ACCOUNT IS ONLY FOR MEDICAL COSTS HOW CAN A BANK TAKE MONEY OUT OF IT FOR SERVICE CHARGES? EXAMPLE:MIN.BALANCE

To: MIKE MAJKRZAK  
Good question about bank's having a service charge on HSA account! Have wondered same. This was the 3rd financial institution I switched account to because of no service charge only to have it occur again.  
 
With HSA accounts being 'tax free" I suppose the bank/credit unions simply could not allow their customers to keep an extra cent! 
 
So much for saving "tax free" monies for use in our retirement years!

I work for a bank with HSA's which are refunded if service charged. Most are dormant charges and we f/m the acct so as not to be charged. Also we don't charge for checks ordered on the account.

What if you have a family high deductible policy for a mom and 25 year old child - whom you can not claim as a dependent (but you can keep on your policy because they are not 27). Can that child open their own HSA and if so how much can they contribute to it?

To learn more about HSA, see the following IRS.gov link: 
 
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/ar02.html#en_US_2012_publink1000178974 
 
As with all other government programs, the HSA is fraught with rules that most people find confusing. 
 
As to why some financial institutions began service charges on HSAs, chances are the bank officials identifying the need to charge this fee do not even understand the HSA program themselves. 
 
Banks have totally disregarded the fact that "we are their customers". More so our elected officials fail to understand the disconnect existing between big business and their constituents.

Correction on HSA Link previously identified above: 
 
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p969/index.html

If you have only single coverage under your HDHP and an HSA on yourself, can you use the HSA account to cover medical expenses for your spouse and children?

I have an individual policy with a $5000 deductable. My total out of pocket expense is now $8500. What does out of pocket maximum actually mean and what happens if my out of pocket exceeds the stated maximum? Thanks

I am quitting my job and started a hsa in january I will have contributed about 600.00 by the time I quit . My total that I wanted to put in was 2500.00, I have not activated my account or used any money out of the account . How will this effect me ? Will I get the money back that I contributed , will I be responsible for the full 2500.00 . Will I lose any money that I contributed ? Thank You Scott

@Scott,  
 
For your situation, I recommend contacting your HSA provider to answer your questions with specifics. 
 
@ KJ yes. 

In order to save money on my monthly individual premium I could go to a $7500 deductible but I was told I could not have an HSA. I was informed that an "HSA is for a high deductible" policy. What the heck is $7500! Please explain (in detail). 
thank you, 
Nancy

Hi Nancy, 
 
There is an out of pocket limit of $6,250 for self-only coverage (so a deductible of greater than $6,250 would violate this requirement). 
 
Does this make sense?

Can an HSA account be used for Dental?

Hi Sherry,  
 
HSA accounts can be used for dental expenses (services, etc), however not for dental insurance premiums. This post may help: http://www.zanebenefits.com/blog/bid/120341/HSAs-vs-HRAs-Savings-Accounts-vs-Reimbursement-Arrangements

I am 65 still working and covered under my employers HSA plan.I registered for medicare part A only in March when I turned 65 so I wouldn't be penalized later for not signing up at 65.Now I discvered I cann't be on HSA and have part A.My max will be prorated 1/6 of $3250 but what about the $1000 catch up for over 55 is it also prorated? I called HSA two times and got two different answers.

I have an HSA account which is funded annually by my employer. My HSA acct. pays 0.10% interest/yr (yes 1/10th of 1%) Can I invest HSA monies in a Mutual fund?

Can an employee elect to change their H S A contribution during the plan year without a "life changing" event? Employee wants to increase contribution into their HSA with tax-exempt payroll deduction.

Hi Lois:  
<Can an employee elect to change their HSA contribution during the plan year without a "life changing" event?> 
 
Yes. An employee can increase or decrease the amount of their HSA contribution at any time, as long as the change is effective on a going-forward basis and as long as the increase doesn't put the employee over the maximum HSA contribution limits. The employee can talk to the HSA bank/provider (or their HR department) about how to do this.

2013 is the first year for my HSA. Can I use that money to pay 2012 bills that were not received until 2013?

@Tonya: It will run by date of service, not date of payment for the medical service, so likely not. I'd recommend checking with your HSA provider to confirm.

If my insurance company does not qualify our plan as a HDHP but our family deductible is over $2500, can we have a private HSA through our bank? Or can you only arrange one if your insurance company qualifies the plan as "HDHP"?

I don't have health insurance through my employer, so I have a HSA . Through my husbands employer I'm on his group health insurance, can I still have the HSA? His group insurance has a Copay, if that matters.

Hi Annie, It's hard to say without the specific details, but this article might be helpful: What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

Hi RK, 
To open an HSA you need a HDHP plan that meets the IRS HSA requirements listed above. Yes, you can open an HSA at a bank so long as the HDHP meets the HSA requirements, and you are eligible in other ways as well. I would suggest checking with your bank for eligibility requirements on opening an HSA.

In 2012 I in rolled into the HSA debit card. This card was my and could be saved up with no time limits to spend it. I have leave that company and now they said they change my account even so I have a debit card which is now closed by them. they change it to the type were you have to spend it all that year or lose the balance on it. What can I do. Don't they have to spend me something to tell me they did this or what my balance is at some point.