Human Resources - Employee Benefits

Health Spending Account

Purpose of the Health Spending Account (HSA)

The HSA can be viewed as a health expenses account. As an eligible employee you can draw on this account to pay for your health, dental and vision care expenses that are not fully covered under the Blue Cross plan (including deductibles or co-payment amounts) or medical, dental and vision care expenses you incur which are not covered under the basic Blue Cross plan but are considered as tax deductible by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Account Statement
Benefit Year
Carryover
Eligible Expenses
Exclusions
HSA Credits
Schedule of Eligible Benefits [PDF 3P/15KB]
Termination

For information relating to Claiming Benefits, Co-ordination of Benefits, Exclusions, Family Member Eligibility, e-service, etc. please go to the Health Benefits Home Page.

HSA Credits

AESES, IUOE, & Excluded Support employees

January 1, 2008: $200 per employee
January 1, 2009: $250 per employee
January 1, 2013: $300 per employee

UWFA & Excluded Academic employees

January 1, 2008: $200 per employee (see note re Term employees)
January 1, 2009: $250 per employee (see note re Term employees)

UWFA-Collegiate employees

January 1, 2008: $150 per employee (see note re Term employees)
January 1, 2009: $250 per employee (see note re Term employees)
January 1, 2013: $300 per employee (see note re Term employees)

Note - Academic Term employees

Eligible academic term employees will receive the full applicable HSA credit on January 1 following the year of appointment. Eligible academic term employees whose term commences January 1, will receive the full HSA credit on date of appointment.

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Account Statement

Once a year you will receive a statement of your Health Spending Account activity. This statement provides an updated status of your unused credits in process and claims paid. Only those eligible expenses not covered under any other health or dental plan will be covered under the HSA.

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Benefit Year

The HSA operates on a calendar year basis from January 1 to December 31. On January 1st of each year, or on date of eligibility, your personal Health Spending Account will be credited with the applicable benefit dollars. These benefit dollars can be used to pay for any eligible expenses for yourself or your eligible family members.

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Carryover

There will be no carryover of HSA credits into the next calendar year. Any credits in the HSA that are not used at the end of the calendar year will be forfeited.

If eligible medical expenses add up to more than your HSA credits in a calendar year, any excess expenses may be carried forward into the next calendar year.

NOTE: Expenses cannot be carried forward more than one benefit year.

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Eligible Expenses

Any medical expenses that qualify as a tax deductible medical expense under Canada Revenue Agency regulations will be eligible for reimbursement under the HSA. In addition, any expenses that are covered, but not fully reimbursed under your Blue Cross plans may be claimed through the HSA.

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Health Spending Account Exclusions

Manitoba Blue Cross shall not pay for the following expenses or services.� For General Exclusions that apply to all health benefits please refer to the Health Benefits Home Page.