10 Answers for Health Insurance Options

As medical care has gotten more complicated, so has the variety of medical insurance options. You've got FSAs, or flexible spending accounts, and HRAs, or health reimbursement accounts, and even HSAs, health savings accounts. Which is best for you? Or should you ignore them all and just buy a medical discount card?

You'll need to do some homework, particularly if it's all new to you. Check out Bankrate's story, "Sorting out your medical insurance options," to get a full picture.

To help you sort it out, here are the answers to 10 questions you should consider before you make your choice.

10 questions about FSAs, HRAs, HSAs and medical discount cards:

FSA

1. Who pays?
Employee, company or both.

2. How much money goes into them?
Company sets limit. Employees decide how much to put into them within that limit.

3. Who owns it?
Company.

4. Does the money in it generate interest?
No.

5. Can you take it with you when you leave the company?
No.

6. Do you have to repay anything if you leave the company before the end of the year?
No.

7. Does unused money "roll over" and get added to account at the end of the year?
IRS says no.

8. How does the IRS treat employee contributions?
Usually not taxed.

9. How does the IRS treat reimbursements for medical treatment?
Not taxed.

10. Can the money be used for nonhealth-care purposes?
No.

HRA

1. Who pays?
Company.

2. How much money goes into them?
Company sets limit.

3. Who owns it?
Company.

4. Does the money in it generate interest?
No.

5. Can you take it with you when you leave the company?
No.

6. Do you have to repay anything if you leave the company before the end of the year?
No.

7. Does unused money "roll over" and get added to account at the end of the year?
Up to company.

8. How does the IRS treat employee contributions?
Does not apply. Employees do not contribute.

9. How does the IRS treat reimbursements for medical treatment?
Not taxed.

10. Can the money be used for nonhealth-care purposes?
No.

HSA

1. Who pays?
Employee, company or both.

2. How much money goes into them?
IRS sets limit. Company and employee each chooses how much to put in within that limit. The 2006 limit is $2,700 for individuals, $5,450 for families. People 55 or older can add $700.

3. Who owns it?
Employee.

4. Does the money in it generate interest?
Yes (tax free).

5. Can you take it with you when you leave the company?
Yes.

6. Do you have to repay anything if you leave the company before the end of the year?
No.

7. Does unused money "roll over" and get added to account at the end of the year?
Yes.

8. How does the IRS treat employee contributions?
Usually not taxed.

9. How does the IRS treat reimbursements for medical treatment?
Not taxed.

10. Can the money be used for nonhealth-care purposes?
Yes, but there is a tax penalty.

MEDICAL DISCOUNT CARDS

1. Who pays?
Employee, but some companies do supply them.

2. How much money goes into them?
Prices generally range from $10 to $40 a month, with different providers offering different discounts for health, dental and vision care. Some also offer prescription drug discounts.

3. Who owns it?
Employee.

4. Does the money in it generate interest?
There is no money in it.

5. Can you take it with you when you leave the company?
Yes, if you paid for it. No, if it is a company-supplied card.

6. Do you have to repay anything if you leave the company before the end of the year?
No.

7. Does unused money "roll over" and get added to account at the end of the year?
There is no money in it.

8. How does the IRS treat employee contributions?
Money spent on cards is taxed, but consult your tax preparer.

9. How does the IRS treat reimbursements for medical treatment?
There are no reimbursements.

10. Can the money be used for nonhealth-care purposes?
No.