You can use the funds in your account to reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket health care expenses. This page examines your reimbursement options, gives an example of how you might be reimbursed, and answers some common questions.
What can I be reimbursed for?
If you have an HSA or an FSA, see this list of eligible expenses that can be reimbursed from your account.
If you have an HRA, eligible expenses are determined by your group. Talk to your employer or benefits administrator for more information.
Requesting reimbursement
Depending on your group settings, you have a few options for getting reimbursed for health care expenses from your account.
Online reimbursement claims
When you want to be reimbursed for an out-of-pocket health care expense, you can do so easily by signing in to www.bcbsvt.com/mymoney. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont will process the request and reimburse you as long as there are sufficient funds in your account. Reimbursements can be sent to you as a check, but a more convenient option is setting up direct deposit with your checking or savings account so the money is automatically sent there. We recommend setting this up and saving a trip to the bank.
If a reimbursement request is greater than the account balance, the difference will pend for up to one year and be reimbursed as funds become available. When you submit a claim, you’re responsible for verifying that the expense is an eligible medical expense as determined by Section 213(d). You should keep appropriate receipts for all medical payments (provider name, date, reason, and amount). However, you do not need to submit this information with your withdrawal request.
To submit an online reimbursement claim from an HSA:
- Sign in at www.bcbsvt.com/mymoney. Select your account type and continue.
- Choose Get Reimbursed from the I Want To… menu.
- If you have more than one account, select the account you want to be reimbursed from, then click Next
- Enter the amount you would like to request, then click Next
- Add or select a bank
- Add notes
- Select Normal Distribution for Distribution Reason
- Review and accept the terms by checking the I certify box
- Click Submit
To submit an online reimbursement claim from your FSA or HRA, follow these steps:
- Sign in at hellofurther.com.
- Choose Get Reimbursed from the I Want To… menu.
- If you have more than one account, select the account you want to use, then click Next.
- Enter the amount you would like to request, then click Next.
- Add or select a bank.
- Enter the Service From and Service To dates (most claims, such as a single doctor’s visit or a store purchase, should show the same date on both lines)
- Enter the Provider Name (this can be the name of a store if the reimbursement is for a store purchase)
- Select the Patient Name
- Select the Service Type
- Click Next
- Click Attach Documentation to upload a receipt or From My Records and Receipts to add a receipt you already have stored on your profile
- Review and accept the terms by checking the I certify box.
- Click Submit.
You'll need documentation for the following items:
- Date of service or purchase
- Name of the person who received service or supplies
- Name of the service or supply provider
- Type of service or supplies you purchased
- The amount you were charged for service or supplies, or the amount that was not reimbursed by your insurance provider
Attachments must be less than 15MB in size and in one of the following file formats: JPG, PDF, TIFF, PNG, or BMP.
Automated Claim Payment
This option must be allowed by your group.
Automated claim payments are another reimbursement option offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. It allows your health plan to automatically send your medical claims from a provider to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont for reimbursement. This means you don't have to seek reimbursement for your provider costs--Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont will reimburse you automatically.
Read our article on Automated Claim Payment to determine if it is right for you.
Mail-In Reimbursement Claims
You can also request reimbursement by mailing in a paper form. This method will take longer. Use the link found later in this page.
Keeping a good record of expenses
When you request a reimbursement, you may be asked to provide proof that the purchase is an eligible medical expense. This might be a prescription, doctor's order, and/or receipt.
Any documentation you upload is stored in our My Records and Receipts electronic document storage tool.
If you are not required to upload documentation for a reimbursement, it is still a good idea to store supporting documentation in My Records and Receipts. This helps you prepare for a future IRS audit.
For more information about storing and maintaining your documentation, see Maintaining Documentation for Eligible Expenses.
Frequently asked questions
- Are claims incurred prior to setting up my HSA eligible to be reimbursed?
- No. Only claims incurred on or after the date that your HSA was activated are eligible regardless of the effective date of the HDHP. Your account is considered active when funded.
- What if I have another account paired with my HSA?
- When actively contributing to an HSA, the following limitations may apply (please see your Summary Plan Description for details):
HSA + FSA: The FSA is limited to vision and dental expenses until you have met your IRS minimum deductible with your insurance.
HSA + HRA: The HRA is limited to vision and dental expenses until you have met your deductible with your insurance OR the HRA is suspended completely.
