The following information is from Banyan Administrators, LLC:

Despite Potential PPACA Problems on the Horizon…HSA Enrollment Continues to Rise

Since health savings accounts (HSAs) were first authorized in January of 2004 as a tax-advantaged portal for medical savings, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which is a trade association representing the health insurance industry, has conducted an annual survey of the HSA market. According the 2011 AHIP survey, HSA plan enrollment in the United States has almost doubled over the last three years, going from 6.1 million participants in 2008 to 11.4 million participants in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, the number of Americans covered by HSAs linked to high-deductible plans (HDHPs) increased by 14%.

Other key findings from the AHIP survey are:

• Large-group coverage was the fastest growing market for HSA plans between 2010 and 2011, with a growth of 26%.

• Individual market coverage was the second fastest growing market for HSA plans, with a growth of 15%.

• Over 6.3 million individuals were enrolled in HSA plans in the large-group market.

• Around 2.8 million individuals were enrolled in HSA plans in the small-group market.

• Approximately 2.4 million individuals were enrolled in HSA plans in the individual market.

The Impact Of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act On HSAs

As it relates to HSA plans, AHIP has noted that some of the provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) could create some potential unintended consequences that might disrupt, if not limit, the availability of HSA plan coverage. Three of the main problems noted by AHIP include:

1. Medical loss ratio regulation.

This requires an insurer to spend 80% or more of a consumer’s premiums on direct, non-administrative patient care and improvements to such care’s quality. AHIP asserts that medical loss ratio regulations will be especially problematic for HSA-eligible HDHPs. Participating in a qualified HDHP is a requirement to participate in an HSA. HDHPs provide individuals with a low-premium, high-deductible alternative to traditional health plans. These plans might have lower benefit costs, but they certainly aren’t always cheaper to administer from a per-enrollee standpoint. As a result, they may naturally have lower medical loss ratios.

2. Over-the-counter (OTC) medication restrictions.

After 2011, funds from HSAs can’t be used to purchase OTC medications unless the individual has a prescription in hand. By limiting consumer access to many common OTC drugs, such as those used for allergies and colds, consumers will be left in default to use more expensive prescription drugs.

3. Minimum actuarial value requirement.

Each level of insurance coverage (platinum, gold, silver, and bronze) sold in either the small or individual market will be required to meet a level-specific minimum actuarial value starting in 2014. The actuarial value is a dollar value based on the average benefits expected to be paid out by a particular plan. Bronze, which is the lowest level, will be required to have at least a 60% actuarial value. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is to institute a process that will determine actuarial values. The health care reform law specifically instructs that the HHS Secretary may include annual employer HSA contribution amounts within the actuarial value calculation. Of course, this wording means annual employer HSA contribution amounts may not be calculated. AHIP recognizes that including this in the calculation will help to ensure continued consumer access to affordable, high-quality coverage since inclusion will considerably increase the probability that HSAs will meet the minimum requirements.

In closing, AHIP’s survey clearly reflects that HSA enrollment is steadily growing. Policymakers should recognize that HSA plans are more important than ever when it comes to U.S. consumers having access to affordable, quality coverage.

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On May 1, 2011, The ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution “The HSA Solution” will offer a way for account holders to create and send one-time or recurring payments from their HSA ─ on demand ─ in five easy steps. 

Below we have put together a few of the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding our Direct Pay HSA service:

How will account holders access the new Direct Pay HSA functionality?  

Account holders will be able to click on a “Direct Pay HSA” tab along the top navigation bar from their ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution Account Summary page; then click on “Access Direct Pay HSA”.

What are the necessary steps to create a payment request?

There are five basic steps to creating a payment online using Direct Pay HSA:

• Step #1: Click on the “Direct Pay HSA” tab from the Account Summary page
• Step #2: Click on “Access Direct Pay HSA”
• Step #3: Select “New Transaction” on the Direct Pay HSA home page
• Step #4: Click on “Send a Payment” and complete the payment information
• Step #5: Review and “Submit” the payment request for processing

What information will account holders need to know in order to create a payment using Direct Pay HSA?

• Payment amount
• Issue date
• Payee’s name
• Payee’s address including street address, city, state and ZIP code

Is there a charge to the account holder for creating a payment online using Direct Pay HSA?

Account holders do not incur transaction or postage fees with any payments they create using Direct Pay HSA.

What if I have additional questions?

The following training materials will be located on the “Direct Pay HSA” tab:

• Direct Pay HSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Direct Pay HSA flyer
• Direct Pay HSA online educational video

We thank you for your business and the opportunity to serve you!

The ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution

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Combined tax forms 1099-SA and 5498-SA were mailed to The ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution account holders on January 29, 2011. The information on these forms will be submitted to the IRS. Account holders receive these combined tax forms for their records only. Account holders use the information on these forms to complete IRS Form 8889.  The 1099-SA and 5498-SA forms do not need to be attached to the account holder’s tax return.

Tax form 5498-SA: This form reports contributions made to an account holder’s Health Savings Account (HSA) by the account holder or by an eligible individual on the account holder’s behalf, as well as contributions made by their employer, if applicable. The IRS requires The ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution to issue form 5498-SA to every account holder who had any contribution activity in their HSA during the previous tax year (2010). Account holders can access this form by logging into their HSA account; click on the “Account Holders Services” tab then “View Tax Forms”.

Note: If an account holder makes a prior year (2010) contribution by April 18, 2011 they will receive an amended 5498-SA in May.

Tax form 1099-SA: This form reports distributions made from an account holder’s HSA. The IRS requires The ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution to issue Form 1099-SA if account holders took a distribution from their HSA during the previous tax year (2010). Account holders can also access this form by logging into their HSA account; click on “Account Holders Services” then “View Tax Forms”.

IRS form 8889: Account holders must obtain, complete and file IRS Form 8889 as part of the federal tax filing by April 18, 2011. It is downloadable from www.irs.gov or account holders can log into their HSA account and click on the “Account Holder Services” tab; then click “Useful Links”; then “Form 8889″. If both spouses have an HSA, then two forms are required (one for each account).

Additional HSA tax resources are available!

• Two online tax educational programs are now available. You may either click on the “watch video” links below or access the tax programs on our Web site at hsamember.com; click on the “Tools” section in the middle of the home page or by clicking on the “Resources” tab in the upper right corner of the home page.
   
  It’s Tax Time:
  Need tax filing information for HSAs?

Tax Guidelines for HSAs  Watch video
Information on HSA tax forms  Watch video

• Employers can log on to the hsamember.com Web site using their employer ID and view additional tax information in a presentation specifically designed for employers. To access this presentation, click on the “Reports” tab; then click on the PDF labeled “Tax Information for Employers”.

Do you have additional HSA tax questions?

For additional HSA tax questions, call the Employer Support Team at 866-712-4551, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern time.
  

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Boasting an impressive reach, this coverage extends to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, plus more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. So, you can enjoy your vacation at ease knowing that covered healthcare is within easy reach. Here are a few guidelines for making use of your coverage with the least hassle.

Always carry your ID card wherever you are traveling, and in any emergency go to the nearest hospital. If you don’t need emergency care but do need to see a doctor or visit a hospital before you return home, call the “Coverage while traveling” number on the back of your Anthem Blue Cross ID card for help in locating the provider nearest to you, or referral authorization. For travel in the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, you can also find participating provider information online (provider.bcbs.com).

Once at the hospital or doctor’s office, present your Anthem Blue Cross card. For services provided in the US, you shouldn’t have to complete claims forms or pay up-front for medical care other than your usual out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copays. Anthem will send you a complete explanation of benefits.

If you are traveling out of the country and need emergency medical care, call, or have a family member or friend call the BlueCard Worldwide Service Center collect (1-804-673-1177) as soon as you are admitted to a hospital. If you need nonemergency care, the service center will help you make an appointment with a doctor or facilitate your hospitalization at a network hospital. The center can help obtain cash-less access for inpatient care except for your usual out-of-pocket expenses. For outpatient care and/or services from a non-network hospital you may have to pay the provider and submit a claim form.

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Protect our environment, go paperless. At ACS|BNY Mellon HSA Solution, we would like to do our part to protect the environment by reducing the amount of printed material we generate.

 If you are not already viewing your periodic HSA statement online; please “turn paper off” by following the four steps outlined below:

 Logon to your HSA Web site

• Select “Update Account Profile” on the left side of the screen
• Click on “Edit” under “Your Statement Delivery Option”
• Click on “Agree” to acknowledge and accept the terms

Beginning in September, any account holder receiving a paper HSA statement will be charged $0.75 each time one is generated.

A customer service enhancement for our account holders. Effective July 19, 2010, you will be able to log on to your HSA Web site or call the HSA Solution Contact Center and update your personal data (i.e., residential address, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number). We will no longer accept personal data changes from another source.  We have changed the process to allow for direct owner­ship of personal information by the account owner.

HSA limits stay the same for 2011. For calendar year 2011, the maximum HSA contribution that can be made is $3,050 for employee-only coverage ($4,050 if you are age 55 or older and eligible to make catch-up contributions) and $6,150 for family coverage ($7,150 if you are age 55 or older and eligible to make catch-up contributions). The minimum deductible will stay at $1,200 for single coverage and $2,400 for family coverage. The maximum out-of-pocket employee expense, including deductibles, will stay at $5,950 for single coverage and $11,900 for family coverage. (IRS, 5/24/10)

Health care reform and HSAs. Outlined below are the health care reform changes with the most immediate impact on Health Savings Accounts:

• Amounts paid for over-the-counter drugs will no longer be qualified medical expenses eligible for reimbursement from an HAS unless the over-the-counter drug was prescribed by a doctor.  The prescription requirement only applies to over-the-counter drugs.     It does not apply to expenses for other over-the-counter items such as insulin and diabetic supplies, bandages, band-aids or contact lens supplies.  These items continue to be reimbursable from an HSA without a doctor’s prescription.  (Effective 1/1/2011)
• The penalty for reimbursements of nonqualified medical expenses from your HSA will increase from 10 to 20 percent. (Effective 1/1/2011)

NOTE: Do you have a dependent that is between the ages of 23 and 26? Parents who cover adult children via their employer’s high-deductible health plan option may be unable to use HSA funds to reimburse themselves on a tax-free basis for medical expenses incurred by those adult children.

The maximum HSA contribution that can be made next year is $3,050 for single or self-only coverage and $6,150 for family coverage. In addition, the minimum deductible will stay at $1,200 for single coverage and $2,400 for family coverage. The maximum out-of-pocket employee expense, including deductibles, will stay at $5,950 for single coverage and $11,900 for family coverage. The catch-up contribution for those age 55 and older will also remain the same at $1,000.

According to a survey performed by America’s Health Insurance Plans, a Washington-based trade group, as of January 1, about 10 million people were enrolled in high-deductible health insurance plans to which HSAs must be linked which is a 25 percent increase over the last year. This shows just how popular these accounts are becoming.

For further information click here to read the revised (June 7, 2010) Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2010-23.

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The old idiom with the words, “two is company,” was reinforced at a recent CalCPA member event. A ProtectPlus staff member was chatting with an accountant who described himself as a sole practitioner while mentioning that he had an assistant. He subscribed to ProtectPlus as a sole practitioner, he said, because the person who helped him already had medical coverage through her spouse’s employer, and she wanted to keep that coverage.

Alerted to a possible misunderstanding, the ProtectPlus representative responded by pointing out that under ProtectPlus rules even if his employee waived coverage, the accountant qualified for the lower premiums of firms with 2 to 14 employees. In addition, if the firm ever moved to another carrier, it would not be subject to underwriting to qualify for coverage. Moreover, simply having that employee on staff is enough to qualify for the lower rates as long as the employee is working a minimum of 20 or 30 hours a week. Even if the employee waives the benefit—whether because he or she has other group insurance coverage or a Kaiser plan—the CPA still qualifies for coverage at the two-member firm rate.

ProtectPlus subscribers should keep in mind that the same rules apply to a CPA sole practitioner who employs his or her spouse. As long as the spouse works at least 20 hours per week and is compensated as an employee, the CPA firm is defined as a group of two. The CPA can purchase a ProtectPlus policy at the lower rate, forego underwriting, and choose whether to include the spouse as a dependent on his or her policy, or cover the spouse as an employee under their own policy. However, in firms where the only other employee is the spouse, the Trust requires documentation (W-2, payroll records, income tax returns, etc.).

For CalCPA members—especially sole practitioners and small firms—one of the greatest benefits of the Group Insurance Plans is access to high quality medical insurance at prices that are competitive to those usually offered to large firms. While true sole practitioners are subject to underwriting, the ProtectPlus policies available to them will for the most part be miles ahead of anything they can purchase on the individual market. And even those who don’t qualify for coverage due to their medical history may qualify for a ProtectPlus HIPAA option. For more information please contact Banyan Administrators (877) 480-7923.

The following information if from Anthem Blue Cross and is quite helpful in guiding you to a healthier lifestyle.

Are you or a family member living with a chronic condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease? If so, we can help. 360˚ Health provides you with support to help you achieve your health goals. We’ll work with you, your doctor and other health care professionals to help you improve your health.

ConditionCare enhances your doctor’s plan of care through the use of a dedicated nurse plus a team of health professionals including dietitians, exercise physiologists, pharmacists and more. You can gain a better understanding of your health, receive help in following your doctor’s care plan and learn how to better manage your health. This program is designed to help members with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure.

ConditionCare Support Programs complement our core ConditionCare programs. They assist members who are not managing a core chronic condition, such as asthma or diabetes, but need help with other conditions ranging from arthritis pain to high blood pressure. These programs include help with vascular at-risk conditions, low back pain, musculoskeletal conditions, and various types of cancer.

ConditionCare Kidney Disease is a program specifically designed to support members with chronic kidney disease. Nurses that specialize in renal care and the treatment of kidney disease provide education and support to help members manage their health.

ComplexCare provides help to those with multiple health concerns who may require high levels of collaborative care. Personalized nurses who specialize in treating multiple health conditions work with members to help improve their health.

Comprehensive Medical Management provides one-on-one expert assistance to help members find and receive the right services and care. The program includes a personal advocate to see that benefits are utilized effectively and that necessary medical interventions are appropriate and safe.

360° Health program offerings vary by state. Specific programs are included in your health plan and others are available for additional cost. Contact your human resources department or benefits administrator as appropriate for eligibility and further details.

Take your next step to better health. Choose a link:

• 360° Health Overview
• Improve Your Health
• Get Guidance

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Death of HSA Holder

You should choose a beneficiary when you set up your HSA. What happens to that HSA when you die depends on whom you designate as the beneficiary.

Spouse is the designated beneficiary.   If your spouse is the designated beneficiary of your HSA, it will be treated as your spouse’s HSA after your death.

Spouse is not the designated beneficiary.   If your spouse is not the designated beneficiary of your HSA:

· The account stops being an HSA, and

· The fair market value of the HSA becomes taxable to the beneficiary in the year in which you die.

If your estate is the beneficiary, the value is included on your final income tax return.

TIP: The amount taxable to a beneficiary other than the estate is reduced by any qualified medical expenses for the decedent that are paid by the beneficiary within 1 year after the date of death.

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