INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE |
| Plan Design
or Compliance Issues |
Health FSA |
HRA |
HSA |
| Internal Revenue
Code |
Internal Revenue
Code |
Internal Revenue
Code |
Internal Revenue
Code |
| Pre-tax salary funding |
Permitted. |
Not permitted for
HRA, but permitted for HDHP offered with HRA. |
Permitted for both
HSA and HDHP. Additionally, the HSA may also be
funded with after tax dollars, as well. |
| Carryover of unused
amounts |
Not permitted. |
Permitted but not
required. |
Permitted. Fully
vested immediately. |
| Medical expenses
that are eligible for reimbursement |
| • |
IRS
Code Section 213(d) expenses incurred during
the coverage period. |
| • |
No insurance
premiums. |
| • |
No long-term
care services. |
|
| • |
IRS
Code Section 213(d) expenses incurred during
the coverage period. |
| • |
Includes insurance
premium. |
| • |
Includes long-term
care insurance. |
| • |
Cannot reimburse
LTC premiums if HRA is in a FSA. |
|
| • |
IRS
Code Section 213(d) expenses incurred during
the coverage period which have not been
reimbursed. |
| • |
No insurance
premiums other than for COBRA or qualified
LTC premiums, or insurance premiums while
receiving umemployment or is over the age
of 65. |
|
| Cash out of unused
amounts |
Not permitted. |
Not permitted. |
| • |
Permitted,
but results in taxable income. |
| • |
Subject to
10% excise tax. |
| • |
Excise tax
waived for participants over age 65, following
death or in a divorce situation. |
|
| Medical expense
incurred in the plan year of the contribution |
Applies. |
Does not apply. |
Does not apply if
expense is incurred after the HSA is created. |
| Limitation on mid-year
changes in the absense of life status change |
Applies. |
Does not apply since
HRS is funded solely with employer funds. |
| • |
Applies
if funded through a cafeteria plan. |
| • |
May apply
if funded through pre-tax employee contributions. |
| • |
Does not apply
if funded by the employer or with employee
after tax contributions. |
|
| Annual amount required
to be available on the first day of coverage |
Applies. |
Does not apply. |
Does not apply. |
| Ability to spend
down accumulated amounts after cessation of active
participation |
Can only be used
for claims incurred prior to termination unless
COBRA is chosen. |
Depends upon the
provisions of the Plan Document. |
| • |
Depends
upon terms of the Plan Document. |
| • |
Funds can
be distributed after termination subject
to income tax. |
| • |
Excise tax
applies to funds spent on non-qualified
medical expenses. |
|
| Third party claims
adjudication |
Required. |
Required. |
Not statutorily
required, but guidance says that an HSA must be
treated the same as an MSA, which does not require
third party adjudication. |
| Limitation on having other health
insurance coverage(stacking) |
| • |
None. |
| • |
FSA must generally
be the payor of last resort. However, Plan
Document wording may change the order of
benefit determination. |
|
| • |
None. |
| • |
FSA must generally
be the payor of last resort. However, Plan
Document wording may change the order of
benefit determination. |
|
| • |
Applies. |
| • |
Participant
not allowed to have an HSA if covered as
a participant or dependent under any other
health plan, including an HRA or medical
FSA. |
| • |
Stacking over
HDHP allowed. |
|
| Non-discrimination
requirements (Code 105(b)) |
Applies. |
Applies. |
| • |
Does
not apply to HSA. |
| • |
Employer contributions
must be "comparable". Must be
the same amount or percentage for all similarly
situated employees. |
| • |
Section 125
discrimination rules apply. |
|
| Is a trust account
required? |
Possibly by ERISA,
but not by the IRS. |
Possibly by ERISA,
except if reimbursements are made out of the general
assets of the employer, but not by the IRS. |
Required. |
| Are account earnings taxable
to participant? |
Generally, no if reimbursements
are made directly out of the general assets of
the employer for covered medical expenses and
are not set aside in a seperate account. |
Generally, no if reimbursements
are made directly out of the general assets of
the employer for covered medical expenses and
are not set aside in a seperate account. |
| • |
Not
if there is a qualified HSA Trust document. |
| • |
Some cash
out amounts may be taxed. |
|
| ERISA applicability
for ERISA covered employers |
Applies. |
Applies. |
| Does
not apply if the following "safe harbor"
conditions are met: |
• |
No
contributions are made by the employer (pre-tax
contributions are considered as employee
contributions for DOL purposes). |
• |
Particpation
is completely voluntary. |
|
| ERISA applicability
for ERISA covered employers |
Applies. |
Applies. |
| • |
The
employer does not endorse the program, but
can publicize the program and facilitate
pre-tax contributions. |
| • |
The employer
receives no consideration other than "reasonable"
compensation for services actually rendered. |
|
| Funding requirement |
Not required. |
Not required. |
Required to be in trust. |
| Plan asset issues |
Salary reduction amounts are
considered as plan assets. |
Generally not plan asset if funded
out of the employers general assets, but may be
an asset if segregated. |
Considered as a plan asset once
placed in a qualified trust. |
| Reporting requirements |
Required for 100+ |
Required for 100+ |
Applies if there are employer
contributions. |
| ERISA SPD required? |
Required. |
Required. |
May apply if there are employer
contributions. |