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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont Learning Center

HRA

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This content in this section is meant to help employers learn about our HRA plans and includes helpful forms and resources necessary to support groups through onboarding, enrollment, and beyond.

 

Helpful Downloads and Tools

HRA Member materials - For even more information about our HRAs.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of an HRA to employees?
The employer contributes funds to a special account to help employees save for health care expenses. Employees won’t pay taxes on the money they receive and use for qualified medical expenses. Additionally, an HRA can be structured to combine with an HSA (with an HSA qualifying health plan) or with a flexible spending account (FSA), to help employees save even more and provide maximum flexibility.
What are the benefits of an HRA to employers?
By offering HRAs to employees, you can save money on health insurance premiums, payroll taxes and FICA taxes. You also have control over how much your company will contribute to the HRA, and how it will be funded. An HRA works with any health plan type, and employers only pay if the employee uses the funds. On average, employees typically use 70 percent of offered funds.
What expenses are eligible under an HRA?
Expenses covered under an HRA depend on the way an employer has set up their HRA program. Employers can decide which expenses are eligible to be reimbursed from the HRA. Most offer an HRA in conjunction with a high deductible health plan and limit reimbursement of the funds in the account to health plan expenses, such as deductible or copay amounts.
What types of HRAs are available?
An employer can set up the HRA in several ways. The two most popular include:
  • HRA Pays First – At the start of the plan year, the employer funds the HRA up to a set amount. As the employee incurs eligible expenses, the employee pays them and the HRA reimburses the employee with employer funds until the account is used up. The employee then pays for medical expenses out of pocket until the plan’s deductible is met. The health plan then pays according to coinsurance amounts.
  • Employee Pays First – The employee pays for health care expenses out of pocket until they have paid a preset amount. When this threshold is reached, the HRA pays until the account is used up. Then, the employee pays out of pocket until the plan deductible is met. The health plan then pays according to coinsurance amounts.
Is a debit card available?
Yes. A Visa® debit card is available for eligible medical expenses, and can be used at the point of purchase or after care.
This card is issued by the Bancorp Bank, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and can be used for qualified expenses wherever Visa debit cards are accepted.

 

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