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Health savings account question

Posted on 2/3/25 at 6:27 pm
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
102493 posts
Posted on 2/3/25 at 6:27 pm
If I pay my copay with a credit card, will it be a problem if I then use my HSA to pay the credit card bill in the amount of the copay, or should I pay the provider directly>
Posted by BHTiger
Charleston
Member since Dec 2017
7143 posts
Posted on 2/3/25 at 6:56 pm to
Usually have to provide receipts if paying yourself back.
Posted by Special K
Member since Jun 2011
1145 posts
Posted on 2/3/25 at 9:37 pm to
Whenever I’ve taken a distribution I think I just clicked some drop-down saying what the expense was for and then the money was deposited in my bank account. Never had to provide receipts but you should have them available just in case.
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
37555 posts
Posted on 2/3/25 at 10:13 pm to
It’s not a problem, I rarely if ever pay directly with my HSA, always put it on a credit card if I can and then just reimburse myself. Why lose out on the CC points? When you apply for a reimbursement, upload the receipt from the doctor and just have your HSA deposit into your bank account. The receipt isn’t required to get the reimbursement, per se, but if you’re ever in an audit, you’ll need it, so might as well go ahead and upload it and it will forever be linked with the transaction.
This post was edited on 2/3/25 at 10:25 pm
Posted by shotskimakesmysat
Laffy Taffy
Member since Sep 2009
73 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 7:37 am to
At a $5000 deductible, you would gain $100-$250 credit card points depending on card that year. I forgo those earnings to have my HSA statement read Ochsner and not have to deal with those receipts.

As I don't follow this, but the best action is to pay your own medical bills and leave that HSA money alone. Open it up in Fidelity or something similar and invest that money as it has the best tax advantages.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
10398 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 8:00 am to
quote:

Usually have to provide receipts if paying yourself back.


It depends on who administers your HSA, and seems to change every 24-36 months. That said, I scan everything I get anyway. I have water bills from 15 years ago, no reason not to be able to look up what I paid for a procedure in 2010, just in case I get into a fight here on TD.
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
37555 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 11:11 am to
quote:

At a $5000 deductible, you would gain $100-$250 credit card points depending on card that year. I forgo those earnings to have my HSA statement read Ochsner and not have to deal with those receipts.



I'm with HealthEquity and it's as simple as uploading a picture of the receipt when i'm applying for the reimbursement, so it really isn't any extra steps and i'm setting up who the payment was to, so all the info is there. Just get the documents from the doctor when i'm leaving and it is done in a few minutes. CC points are better than no CC points .

quote:

As I don't follow this, but the best action is to pay your own medical bills and leave that HSA money alone. Open it up in Fidelity or something similar and invest that money as it has the best tax advantages.


Generally what I do. Unless I have a very large medical expense, I don't touch my HSA. It is another tax advantaged retirement savings account. Just as far as the OP is concerned, there is no issue with paying your medical bill with a CC and then reimbursing yourself from your HSA after the fact.
Posted by shotskimakesmysat
Laffy Taffy
Member since Sep 2009
73 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:34 pm to
quote:

I'm with HealthEquity and it's as simple as uploading a picture of the receipt when i'm applying for the reimbursement, so it really isn't any extra steps and i'm setting up who the payment was to, so all the info is there. Just get the documents from the doctor when i'm leaving and it is done in a few minutes. CC points are better than no CC points .


My HSA is through HomeBank and they do not have a place to upload the photos. Wish it were easier like yours. Might have to look into another HSA account.

I agree with little points are better than not points!
Posted by GoCrazyAuburn
Member since Feb 2010
37555 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 12:44 pm to
quote:

My HSA is through HomeBank and they do not have a place to upload the photos. Wish it were easier like yours. Might have to look into another HSA account.


If that is the case, then yea I can see the added hastle beng a little more of a deterrent, but also if the expense is the size that it wouldn't be worth the time to upload the documents, I'd probably just not reimburse myself anyways and just pay for it myself, just personal procedure there.

I've liked HealthEquity a lot. Their app is solid and has been very easy to use. Any time i've done a reimbursement it has been super quick and simple. Investment options are fine. Probably better out there but it does what I need it to do.
Posted by LemmyLives
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
10398 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 2:43 pm to
quote:

My HSA is through HomeBank and they do not have a place to upload the photos.


Just email the screenshots of the receipts to yourself, with a #2025HSA_Receipt tag for easy searching. If you use Gmail, put them on GDrive, if you use O365, use OneDrive, etc. I've been capturing all receipts via MS Office on my phone when I don't have access to a scanner (overseas, usually) for decades.
Posted by slackster
Houston
Member since Mar 2009
90020 posts
Posted on 2/4/25 at 8:47 pm to
I didn’t red all of the replies (8 of them so I’m lazy), but if at all possible you should avoid tapping HSA at all. Forgoing Roth or IRA contributions would be better than tapping HSA in most cases.
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