Use Your HSA, HRA, or FSA

Make your health care money go further with your HSA, HRA, or FSA. These accounts use tax-free1 contributions to pay for qualified health expenses — so you can save money.

Paying for care with your HRA, HSA, or FSA

How you pay depends on the type of account you have and where you get care. Your account might give you a payment card to use at check-in, require you to request reimbursement, or offer another payment option. Check with your employer’s benefits administrator for specific details about your account.

If you have an HRA, HSA, or FSA administered through Kaiser Permanente, we also offer convenient ways to manage your account online. You can see your balance and account activity, manage your investments, request distributions, and more.2,3,4

A quick guide to HSAs, HRAs, and FSAs

CategoryHSA          HRAFSA
You own the account     YesNoNo
Your employer owns the account NoYesYes
You and your employer can both put money in   YesNoYes
Only your employer can put money inNoYesNo
You can earn tax-free1 interestYesNoNo
Unused money stays in your accountYesSometimes Sometimes

Health savings account

An HSA lets both you and your employer put aside tax-free dollars to help you pay for qualified health expenses.1,5 You need to have a qualifying deductible plan to open an HSA.

Key takeaways:

  • You own the account.
  • You can earn tax-free1 interest on your HSA, just like a personal savings account.
  • Some HSAs let you invest your money.
  • Unused money stays in your account. 
  • If you change jobs or retire, you can keep any unused money in your HSA.

How much you can contribute to your HSA
The maximum amount you can put in your account is set by the IRS each year.

For 2025, the maximum contribution limits are:

  • $4,300 for individuals
  • $8,550 for families

For 2026, the maximum contribution limits are:

  • $4,400 for individuals
  • $8,750 for families

When you turn 55, you can contribute an additional $1,000 each year until you’re enrolled in Medicare. See IRS Publication 969 for more information on contributions or talk with your tax advisor. 

To help decide what HSA contributions are right for you, try these online tools:

Contact your employer’s benefits administrator for more information about your specific account. If you don’t have an HSA yet, your benefits administrator or a tax advisor can tell you if your health plan qualifies and how to open an account.

Health reimbursement arrangement

An HRA is an employer-funded account. They’ll set it up for you and contribute money to help you pay for qualified health care costs. Each employer gets to define what costs they’ll cover.6

Key takeaways:

  • Your employer owns the account.
  • The money isn’t part of your wages, so you won’t pay taxes on it.1
  • Some employers let you roll over unused money into the next year, and some don’t.7

Contact your employer’s benefits administrator for more information about your specific account.

Flexible spending account

An FSA is an account some employers offer alongside their health plan. You and your employer can both make tax-free1 contributions to help you pay for qualified medical or dependent-care expenses, depending on the type of FSA you have.8,9

Key takeaways:

  • Your employer owns the account.
  • Most FSAs have a “use it or lose it” policy and won’t roll over any unused money at the end of the year. 
  • Some employers may carry a limited portion of leftover money into the next year or offer a grace period to use up your remaining balance.10
  • You don't get to keep any money if you change jobs or retire.

Contact your employer’s benefits administrator for more information about your specific account. If your employer offers an FSA but you don’t have one yet, they can tell you how to set one up and start making contributions.

Save your receipts and documents

Remember to keep all your bills, Explanation of Benefits, and itemized receipts. You may need them for reimbursement or tax purposes. You can usually view and print copies of your bills online.

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Footnotes

  1. The tax references on this page relate to federal income tax only. Consult with your financial or tax advisor for information about state income tax laws. Return to footnote 1
  2. Your sign-on and online experience will vary if you are not enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente health plan with your employer or are not registered on kp.org. Return to footnote 2
  3. If you are not enrolled in a Kaiser Permanente health plan, you’ll need to access and manage your HSA at kp.org/healthexpense. When you sign in for the first time, you’ll sign in as a new user. Enter the requested information to verify your identity, including your Social Security number. After setting up your security questions and answers, you’ll create your username and password. Return to footnote 3
  4. It may take up to 9 days from when you register on kp.org before you can access your account through kp.org/healthpayment. Return to footnote 4
  5. You can use your HSA to pay for types of care that are defined as qualified medical expenses. These are described in IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, available at irs.gov/publications. As an HSA holder, you are responsible for figuring out whether the particular type of care you want is a qualified medical expense under the tax laws. Return to footnote 5
  6. You can use your HRA to pay for types of care that are defined as qualified medical expenses. These are described in IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, available at irs.gov/publications. Consult with your employer’s plan administrator to find out what type of HRA you have and which categories of qualified medical expenses are eligible for payment or reimbursement under your HRA. Return to footnote 6
  7. Contact your employer’s benefits administrator for more information on whether your HRA offers a rollover option. Return to footnote 7
  8. You can use your medical FSA to pay for types of care that are defined as qualified medical expenses. These are described in IRS Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses, available at irs.gov/publications. Consult with your employer’s plan administrator to find out what type of FSA you have and which categories of qualified medical expenses are eligible for payment or reimbursement under your FSA. Return to footnote 8
  9. If you have a dependent-care FSA, download IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses, at irs.gov/publications for a list of qualified dependent-care expenses. Return to footnote 9
  10. Any grace period or amount of unused FSA money that may carry over into the next plan year will be determined by your employer. Contact your employer’s benefits administrator for more information. Return to footnote 10