Health Finance Ed Center
Understanding how to connect your health and finances is more important than ever.
Our Health Finance Ed Center brings together industry – leading education, tools and resources designed to help
you make the most of your health accounts.
To get started, choose which health account you'd like to browse resources for:
What is a health savings account (HSA)?
An HSA is designed to work with a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP). The money goes in on a pre-taxed basis through payroll contributions, grows income tax-free and comes out income tax-free when you use it for qualified medical expenses.
Unlike an FSA, you can carry over unused available funds from year to year and the account is yours to keep even if you change jobs, change health plans or retire.
Good health is a journey. So is saving the money needed to pay for qualified medical expenses. To connect health and finances, our Health Finance Journey™ model identifies five stages individuals move through when it comes to their HSA – decide, open, use, manage and optimize *.
How do I know what stage I'm in?
Select your stage below based on your current usage and Behaviors – then browse browse related tools and resources tailored to your stage of health care saving and spending. Understanding what stage you’re in helps you make the most of your HSA.
I'm thinking about opening an HSA but have questions about how it works and if I qualify.
I opened an HSA but I'm looking for more information on what to do next.
I understand how to use my HSA today but have questions about how to save for the future.
I’m managing my HSA well but need tips on how to save and invest for retirement.
I feel like an HSA pro. I've built up my balance and I’m ready to optimize my HSA for retirement.
Britta's HSA story
After accepting her first post-college job, Britta needs to make benefit decisions including whether an HSA is right for her. Britta’s HR rep tells her one option is to enroll in a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP) that is paired with an HSA.
Because Britta is learning about HSAs and deciding if an account is right for her, she falls into the DECIDE stage.
If you’re also trying to decide if an HSA is right for you, browse resources below. Or, if you’re ready to enroll, click the link below to learn more about the enrollment process.
Decide stage
There are a number of benefits to opening an HSA. Here are the top 3 you should consider when deciding if an HSA is right for you.
Resources for the Decide Stage
Video: What is an HSA?
The first step to take charge of your health care savings is to open an HSA. Learn more about the tax benefits of opening an HSA and how you could start saving today.
Opening an HSA
Opening an HSA is easy – it takes takes less then 10 minutes. Learn more about the requirements and easy steps to enroll in an HSA with Optum Bank today.
Qualified medical expense search tool
Use our qualified medical expense tool to see a list of expenses that you can use an HSA to pay for.
Marcus and Michael's HSA Story
Marcus and Michael recently adopted their first child. They decided to open an HSA to be prepared for unexpected health care expenses today and in the future.
They’re trying to decide how much to contribute to their HSA and to understand what qualifies. They also want to understand how to use their HSA debit Mastercard® to make payments.
Because Marcus and Michael just opened their HSA, they fall into the OPEN stage.
Open stage checklist
By opening an HSA, you've taken the first step toward financial wellness.
Complete this checklist to start preparing for the Use stage.
ACE YOUR HSA: EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE OPEN STAGE
Videos
Are you making the most of your HSA? Watch our HSA videos to learn more about the tax benefits of your HSA, including what you need to know during tax season.
Tools
Making the most of your HSA includes understanding all of the tax benefits and knowing how much to contribute each year. View the tools below to help answer questions about your HSA contributions and tax time.
Webinars
Having an HSA shouldn’t complicate your taxes. Register for our live tax time webinar to learn more about how your state treats HSA contributions and which IRS forms you’ll need.
Optum Bank Academy Courses
3 clicks to get started: Simply sign in. Click on Optum Bank Academy. Select your courses to watch and enjoy.
Optum Bank Academy courses are available exclusively to Optum Bank account holders. If you don't have an HSA with Optum Bank, click here to learn how to enroll in an HSA today.
Natasha's HSA Story
Natasha opened her HSA with her previous employer. She has been contributing what she can for the last few years to take advantage of all the tax savings.
During a doctor visit, she is diagnosed with bronchitis for which the doctor prescribes a generic medication. Natasha pays for it using her Optum Bank debit Mastercard® at the pharmacy. She then receives a bill from her health plan and, because she hasn’t yet met her deductible, uses her HSA to pay it.
Because Natasha is actively using her HSA, she falls into the USE stage.
Use stage checklist
If you're in the Use stage, you understand how to save and pay for health care expenses but you may be thinking about how your HSA can help you continue to save for the future.
Complete this checklist to start preparing for the Manage stage.
Download the mobile app
Learn how to capture receipts, pay bills, search for qualified medical expenses and more while you're on the go.
Ace your HSA: Educational Resources for the Use Stage
Videos
Learning how to use your HSA can be a challenge. Watch our HSA videos to learn more about the benefits of your using your HSA and what you will need to know during tax season.
Tools
Using your HSA to the fullest includes understanding all of the tax benefits and knowing how much to contribute each year. View the tools below to help answer questions about your HSA contributions and tax time.
Webinars
Using your HSA shouldn’t complicate your taxes. Register for our live tax time webinar to learn more about how your state treats HSA contributions and which IRS forms you’ll need.
Optum Bank Academy Courses
Our Optum Bank® Academy interactive courses are designed to help guide you in making the most of your HSA. Click the links below to view a short video about each HSA course recommended for the Use stage.
- Money Management: Using Your HSA to Take Control of Your Health Care Dollar
- The Savvy Health Care Shopper
3 clicks to get started: Simply sign in. Click on Optum Bank Academy. Select your courses to watch and enjoy.
Optum Bank Academy courses are available exclusively to Optum Bank account holders. If you don't have an HSA with Optum Bank, click here to learn how to enroll in an HSA today.
The Nolan family's HSA Story
Working full-time with two kids, Nancy and Bill need to be smart about budgeting and managing their HSA dollars.
Their son has asthma and their daughter needs braces this year. Because asthma is a chronic condition, and they were able to anticipate the cost of braces, they save the maximum annual contribution limit each year to cover the full cost of each. However, with their children getting older, they’re curious if they should also start investing their HSA to save for retirement.
Because the Nolans are confident in using and managing their HSA, they fall into the MANAGE stage.
Manage stage checklist
If you're in the Manage stage, you understand how to maximize your HSA, but you still have a few questions about saving for retirement.
Complete this checklist to start preparing for the Optimize stage.
Ace your HSA: Educational Resources for the manage Stage
Videos
Watch our videos below to learn how you could grow your HSA balance through the investing options Optum Bank offers and to understand all of the tax benefits of an HSA.
Tools
Use the tools below to manage your HSA. Learn more about all of the tax benefits and know how much to contribute each year. View the tools below to help answer questions about your HSA contributions and tax time.
Webinars
Don’t miss out on the benefits your HSA has to offer. Register for one of our webinars to learn more about investing your HSA and what you’ll need to know during tax season.
Optum Bank Academy Courses
Our Optum Bank® Academy interactive courses were designed to help guide you in managing your HSA. Click the links below to view a short video about each HSA course recommended for the Management stage.
- Money Management: Using Your HSA to Take Control of Your Health Care Dollar
- Your HSA as an Investment Tool
3 clicks to get started: Simply sign in. Click on Optum Bank Academy. Select your courses to watch and enjoy.
Optum Bank Academy courses are available exclusively to Optum Bank account holders. If you don't have an HSA with Optum Bank, click here to learn how to enroll in an HSA today.
DAVID AND JENNY'S HSA STORY
With all their kids out of the house, David and Jenny enjoy traveling together and are looking forward to retirement.
In addition to saving in their mutual 401(k)s, they’ve been contributing the maximum allowed by the IRS to their HSA each year and investing that money. Since David is 55, he’s also contributing an extra $1,000 “catch-up” contribution each year. And, they know that after one of them turns 65, they can use their HSA funds for non-qualified expenses, like a boat or exotic vacation.
Because David and Jenny are proactively investing in mutual funds to save for retirement, they’re in the OPTIMIZE stage.
Optimize stage checklist
If you're in the Optimize stage you understand the importance of building up your HSA balance and investing your HSA dollars to start saving for health care costs during retirement.
Ace your HSA: Educational Resources for the Optimize Stage
Videos
Watch our videos below to learn how you could grow your HSA balance through the investing options Optum Bank offers and to understand all of the tax benefits of an HSA.
Tools
Use the tools below to help answer questions about your HSA contributions and what you may need to know during tax time.
Webinars
Don’t miss out on the benefits your HSA has to offer. Register for one of our educational webinars to learn more about investing your HSA and what you’ll need to know during tax season.
Optum Bank Academy Courses
Our Optum Bank® Academy interactive courses were designed to help guide you in making the most of your HSA. Click the links below to view a short video about each HSA course recommended for the Optimize stage.
- Money Management: Using Your HSA to Take Control of Your Health Care Dollar
- Your HSA as an Investment Tool
3 clicks to get started: Simply sign in. Click on Optum Bank Academy. Select your courses to watch and enjoy.
Optum Bank Academy courses are available exclusively to Optum Bank account holders. If you don't have an HSA with Optum Bank, click here to learn how to enroll in an HSA today.
What is a flexible spending account (FSA)?
An FSA is an account that you can put money into to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. You don’t pay taxes on this money. This means you’ll save an amount equal to the taxes you would have paid on the money you set aside.
It’s important to understand that in most cases FSAs have a “use it or lose it” rule. Keep this in mind to avoid losing any unspent money left in your account at the of the plan year.
Types of FSAs
Understanding how FSAs work can be confusing. Watch these videos to learn more about the differnt types of FSAs.
Tools and Resources
Video
Upload a receipt
Discover how to upload a receipt for an Optum Bank Mastercard® purchase.
Educational Tools
Qualified medical expense tool
Understanding what you can pay for with your FSA can be confusing. Use our QME tool to filter by account type and expense type to learn about what qualifies.
Video
File a claim
Do you have questions about how to file a claim? Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to file a claim.
* Stages based on the proprietary Optum Bank 5 Stages of Health Saving and Spend model.