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What Happens to HSA When You Leave a Job?

Published July 9, 2024

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Short answer: Your HSA stays yours when you leave a job, and you can keep using it, pay COBRA premiums with it, or roll it over to a new HSA; non-qualified withdrawals before 65 may face taxes and penalties.

What happens to your HSA when leaving

Leaving a job can be a stressful time, especially when it comes to your health savings account (HSA). So, what exactly happens to your HSA when you leave a job?

When you leave a job, your HSA remains yours to keep and take with you. It is a portable account that belongs to you, not your employer. This means you have several options:

Options for using or moving your HSA

  • Continue using the HSA: You can keep the HSA and continue to use it for qualified medical expenses, even if you are no longer enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).
  • Use it for COBRA premiums: You can use the funds in your HSA to pay for COBRA premiums to maintain health insurance coverage after leaving your job.
  • Roll it over to a new HSA: If you have a new job with a different employer offering an HSA, you can roll over the funds from your previous HSA to the new one.

It's important to note that if you withdraw funds from your HSA for non-qualified medical expenses before age 65, you may be subject to taxes and penalties.

Remember to keep track of your HSA funds and stay informed about any changes to ensure you make the best decisions for your healthcare needs.

When you leave a job, your health savings account (HSA) is yours to keep, allowing you several managing options for your funds. It's essential to know that this account is portable and not tied to your employer, so you can make the best use of it even after changing jobs.

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