WikiLeaks Document Release http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 February 2, 2009 Congressional Research Service Report RS21573 Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses: Side-by-Side Comparison Bob Lyke and Chris L. Peterson, Domestic Social Policy Division February 4, 2008 Abstract. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are the newest addition to an array of taxadvantaged accounts that people can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by insurance. First available January 1, 2004, HSAs have largely replaced the similar but more restrictive Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), which never attracted many participants. In addition, people may have access to two employment-based accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) and health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Collectively, these accounts have some features and objectives in common, but they also differ in important respects. Keeping these accounts straight can be difficult, especially when they are discussed informally using different names. This report provides summaries and background information about the four accounts and then compares them with respect to eligibility, contribution limits, use of funds, and other characteristics for tax year 2008. The report concludes with a discussion of equity and several other issues. Order Code RS21573 Updated February 4, 2008 Tax-Advantaged Accounts for Health Care Expenses: Side-by-Side Comparison Bob Lyke and Chris L. Peterson Domestic Social Policy Division Summary http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are the newest addition to an array of tax- advantaged accounts that people can use to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses, such as deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by insurance. First available January 1, 2004, HSAs have largely replaced the similar but more restrictive Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs), which never attracted many participants. In addition, people may have access to two employment-based accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) and health care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Collectively, these accounts have some features and objectives in common, but they also differ in important respects. Keeping these accounts straight can be difficult, especially when they are discussed informally using different names. This report provides brief summaries and background information about the four accounts and then compares them with respect to eligibility, contribution limits, use of funds, and other characteristics for tax year 2008. The report concludes with a brief discussion of equity and several other issues. It will be updated when changes occur. Brief Summaries and Background Four types of tax-advantaged accounts are permitted under current law for people to pay unreimbursed medical expenses such as deductibles, copayments, and services not covered by insurance: health care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, and Archer Medical Savings Accounts.1 Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). Health care FSA are employer-established arrangements that reimburse employees for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. They usually are funded through salary reduction 1 For additional general information, see Internal Revenue Service publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans, available at [http://www.irs.gov]. CRS-2 agreements under which employees receive less pay (e.g., $100 less a month) in exchange for equivalent contributions to their accounts (in this case, $1,200 for the year). Employees choose how much to put into their accounts, which can vary from year to year. They forfeit unused balances at the end of the year unless the employer offers a grace period for additional claims of up to 2½ months after the end of the year (e.g., so medical expenses incurred by March 15, 2009, could be reimbursed from the FSA for 2008). A limited, one-time rollover may be made to a Health Savings Account. The entire annual amount of an FSA must be made available to employees at the beginning of the year. Contributions are not subject to income or employment taxes (i.e., Social Security and Medicare taxes), unlike the pay employees otherwise would have received. FSAs funded by salary reductions are governed by Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, which exempts contributions from taxes despite the fact that employees have the choice to receive taxable wages.2 Most rules regarding FSAs are not spelled out in the Code; they were included in proposed regulations that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued in 1984 and 1989. Final rules regarding permissible mid-year election changes were issued in 2000 and 2001. On August 3, 2007, the IRS issued new proposed rules that will generally be effective on January 1, 2009, though taxpayers may adopt them http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 sooner. These rules have not yet been finalized. FSAs are available to more than one- fifth of private-sector workers (typically in larger establishments) and nearly half of government workers (including federal employees), though participation rates are substantially lower.3 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) are also employer-established arrangements to reimburse employees for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. As is the case with FSAs, contributions are not subject to either income or employment taxes. However, contributions cannot be made through salary reduction agreements; only employers may contribute. Employers need not actually fund HRAs until employees draw upon them. Also unlike FSAs, reimbursements can be limited to amounts previously contributed. Unused balances may be carried over indefinitely, though employers may limit the aggregate carryovers. A limited, one-time rollover may be made to a Health Savings Account. HRAs are governed by Section 105 of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows health plan benefits used for medical care to be exempt from taxes, and Section 106 of the Code, which allows employer contributions to those plans to be tax-exempt. Rules regarding HRAs are spelled out in IRS revenue rulings and notices issued in 2002.4 Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are tax-exempt accounts for paying medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance or otherwise reimbursable. They can be established and contributions made only when the owner has qualifying high deductible 2 Section 125 governs cafeteria plans; it provides an express exception to the constructive receipt rule, which requires taxation of what is normally nontaxable income when taxpayers have the choice of receiving taxable income or nontaxable income. 3 FSA rules are available at 49 Federal Register 19321 and 50733; 54 FR 9460, 65 FR 15548; and 66 FR 1837. Also see IRS Revenue Ruling 2003-102. For data on the use of FSAs, see CRS Report RL32656, Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts, by Chris L. Peterson and Bob Lyke. 4 IRS Revenue Ruling 2002-41 and Notice 2002-45. CRS-3 insurance (a deductible of at least $1,100 for self-only coverage and $2,200 for family coverage, plus other criteria) and no other coverage including Medicare, with some exceptions. Contributions are limited to $2,900 for self-only coverage and $5,800 for family coverage. An additional contribution of $900 is allowed people age 55 and older. (The dollar amounts in the last several sentences are for 2008.) HSAs carry tax advantages that can be significant for some people. Contributions made by employers are exempt from income and employment taxes; account owners may deduct contributions they make. Withdrawals for medical expenses are not taxed; those used for other purposes are taxable and subject to an additional 10% penalty except in cases of disability, death, or attaining age 65. Unused balances may be carried over from year to year without limit. As of January 2007, nearly 4.5 million people were covered by HSA-high deductible health plans. The number includes policy-holders (not all of whom may have had HSAs) as well as their family members.5 HSAs were first authorized by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA, P.L. 108-173). Most statutory rules are in Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, though there is IRS revenue guidance as well.6 http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 Archer Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) might be viewed as a restricted precursor to HSAs. Like them, MSAs can be established and contributions made only when account owners have qualifying high deductible insurance and no other coverage, with some exceptions. Contributions made by employers are exempt from income and employment taxes, while contributions made by account owners (allowed only if the employer does not contribute) are deductible. Withdrawals are not taxed if used for medical expenses; those used for other purposes are taxable and generally subject to an additional 15% penalty. Unused balances may be carried over from year to year without limit. The principal difference is that eligibility is limited to people who are self- employed or who are employees covered by a high deductible plan established by their small employer (50 or fewer employees, on average). In addition, the minimum deductible levels are higher and the contribution limits are lower. For details, see the comparison table that follows. MSAs were first authorized by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-191). That legislation also set a deadline for establishing new accounts and generally limited the total number to 750,000 (not counting accounts of owners who were previously uninsured, among others), though for tax year 2003 the IRS estimated there were fewer than 80,000 accounts in total. Later amendments extended the deadline for new accounts to December 31, 2007, with some exceptions. However, most MSA owners can now have HSAs, and their MSA balances can be rolled over into the new accounts. Most statutory rules governing MSAs are in Section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code. 5 The number is based on a survey by America's Health Insurance Plans. For more information, see [http://www.ahipresearch.org/PDFs/FINAL%20AHIP_HSAReport.pdf]. 6 For additional information, see CRS Report RL33257, Health Savings Accounts: Overview of Rules for 2008, by Bob Lyke. CRS-4 Summary of General Features of FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and MSAs, 2006 Health Care Flexible Spending Health Reimbursement Health Savings Accounts Medical Savings Accounts Accounts (FSA) Accounts (HRA) (HSA) (Archer MSA) Eligibility Employees whose employers Employees whose employers Individuals with qualifying health Individuals with qualifying health offer this benefit. Former offer this benefit. Former insurance. Ineligible individuals may insurance who are employees of a small employees may be included. employees may be included. keep previously established accounts but employer (50 or fewer workers) with a cannot make contributions. high deductible plan or self-employed. Employers not restricted by size. Employers not restricted by size. Ineligible individuals may keep previously established accounts but cannot make contributions. Definition of No health insurance requirements. No health insurance requirements, Self-only deductible must be at least Self-only deductible must be at least http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 qualifying although HRAs are usually $1,100; the family deductible must be $1,950 but not over $2,900; the family health combined with high deductible at least $2,200. Annual out-of-pocket deductible must be at least $3,850 but insurance health insurance. expenses for covered benefits cannot not over $5,800. Annual out-of-pocket exceed $5,600 for self-only coverage expenses for covered benefits cannot and $11,200 for family coverage. exceed $3,850 and $7,050, respectively. Deductible need not apply to preventive Deductible need not apply to preventive care. care if absence of deductible is required by state law. Contributions By employer, employee, or both. Only by employer. By any person on behalf of an eligible By employer or account owner, but not Usually funded by employee individual. both. through salary reduction agreement. Annual None required, though employers None required. Employers $2,900 for self-only coverage and 65% of the deductible for self-only contribution usually impose a limit. usually set their contributions $5,800 for family coverage. Account coverage and 75% of the deductible for limits below the annual deductible of the owners 55 years old or older and not in family coverage. accompanying health insurance. Medicare can contribute an additional $900 in 2008. Qualifying Most unreimbursed medical Most unreimbursed medical Most unreimbursed medical expenses. Most unreimbursed medical expenses. expenses expenses, though employers may expenses, though employers may May be used for premiums for long-term May be used for premiums for long-term impose additional limitations. impose additional limitations. care insurance, COBRA, health care insurance, COBRA, and health May not be used for long-term May be used for long-term care insurance for those receiving insurance for those receiving care or health insurance and health insurance premiums, if unemployment compensation under unemployment compensation under premiums. the employer allows. federal or state law, and health insurance federal or state law. (other than Medigap policies) for individuals who are 65 years of age and older. CRS-5 Health Care Flexible Spending Health Reimbursement Health Savings Accounts Medical Savings Accounts Accounts (FSA) Accounts (HRA) (HSA) (Archer MSA) Allowable None None Permitted, subject to income tax and Permitted, subject to income tax and non-medical 10% penalty except in cases of 15% penalty except in cases of disability, withdrawals disability, death, or attaining age 65. death, or attaining age 65. Carryover of Balances remaining at year's end Permitted, although some Full amount may be carried over Full amount may be carried over unused funds (or up to 2½ months after year's employers limit amount that can indefinitely. indefinitely. end, if employer permits) are be carried over. A limited, one- forfeited to employer. A limited, time rollover to an HSA is one-time rollover to an HSA is allowed. allowed. Portability Balances generally forfeited at At discretion of employer, though Portable. Portable. http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 termination, although COBRA subject to COBRA provisions. extensions sometimes apply. Note: Rules are expressed in general terms. Not all details are shown. CRS-6 Some Issues Consumer-Driven Health Care. When the accounts discussed in this report are paired with high deductible insurance, they become what some call "consumer driven health plans" (CDHP).7 One objective of CDHPs is to allow owners to choose health care providers and services themselves, not constrained by managed care restrictions. Another is to give owners a financial incentive to save for future health care expenses in exchange for accepting the greater risk of a higher insurance deductible. In theory, CDHPs will slow health care spending and encourage cost-effective care. The extent to which these objectives will be borne out is not clear, largely because the two accounts most likely to be effective in these respects, HRAs and HSAs, are still too new to permit adequate assessment. Much depends on how high the insurance deductibles are, how much money is put into the accounts and by whom, whether accounts are used to pay for expenditures other than health care (when allowed), and whether people with accounts can make informed choices. Additional key questions are how much competition there is among health care providers and whether prices for health care are or can be transparent. Equity. The tax savings associated with tax-advantaged health care accounts http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS21573 depend on the taxpayers' marginal tax rates; for federal income taxes alone, these vary from 10% for married couples filing joint returns who have taxable incomes not exceeding $16,050 up to 35% for married couples filing joint returns who have taxable incomes over $357,700. (These figures are for the 2008 tax year; other figures apply to taxpayers with different filing status.) As a consequence, the accounts discussed in this report are more attractive for higher-income taxpayers; indeed, some consider HSAs more a vehicle for building retirement income than paying for health care. Critics of these accounts argue that it is unfair for public health care subsidies (the forgone tax revenue) to flow disproportionately to higher income taxpayers, particularly since they generally have more resources to spend on health care in the first place. However, if the accounts are paired with high deductible insurance, it might be argued that the tax savings are appropriate for taking on more greater financial risk and using less health care (to the extent this actually occurs). The latter arguments do not apply to FSAs when taxpayers do not have high deductible insurance; these accounts subsidize first-dollar payments for health care and may increase health care spending. As FSAs are available only through employer plans, they likely appear inequitable to taxpayers who cannot have them. Targeted Savings Accounts. Current law provides multiple tax-advantaged savings accounts for education and retirement, as well as health care. It may be simpler and more effective to have fewer accounts that would be available for a variety of expenses, perhaps as President Bush once proposed. The President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform recommended in 2005 that MSAs, HSAs, and FSAs be replaced by new Save for Family accounts that could be used for health care and education expenses; these would have $10,000 annual contribution limits. The President's FY2009 budget would eliminate FSAs and HRAs as a consequence of replacing the exclusion for employer-paid coverage with a new standard deduction for health insurance. 7 HSA and MSA plans require high deductible insurance when contributions are made, though owners can retain accounts after switching to plans with lower deductibles. There is no legal requirement for HRAs to be associated with high deductible coverage, though they usually are. FSAs do not require high deductible insurance.