Can you explain high deductible health plan and HRA?

Question

My Ex has a high deductible health plan with health reimbursement accounts (HRA)...

Does anybody have this - and explain how this works. I want to know because I paid $500 worth of doctor bills that ex should pay half- insurance paid $0 because of the high deductible..

Is he getting reimbursed from his insurance for these bills that the insurance doesn't pay?

Answer 1

I would like to suggest you get as much information as you could before taking action,here is a good place for that.http://health-insurance.onlinebestoffer....

Answer 2

High Deductible Health Plans do not pay anything towards your claims until the deductible has been met (usually with the exception of annual preventative examinations).  I have a HDHP with a $3000 deductible.  I do not expect to meet my deductible with my normal routine health care needs, so this policy is more of a catastrophic coverage policy for me.  

To help you meet the high deductible, the government lets you take pre-tax income and put it into an HRA to be used for medical expenses.  Often times, the employer will contribute something to this account also.  

I have a VISA card with my HRA, so I can pay for my portion of any medical/dental expenses directly from my HRA.  Some policies require you to pay upfront and submit receipts for your payments, then reimburse you.      

The $500 you paid, was this for services for you or for a dependent? Is the patient covered under another policy from you also?  I'm assuming the Ex is responsible for 50% of medical expenses due to a divorce decree?  

Bottom line, he is not getting reimbursed for the $500 you paid unless he submits a receipt for it.  And even if he were being reimbursed from his HRA, he put the money into the account to begin with.  (Although I pretty sure that would be tax fraud, as it wasn't for an eligible medical expense since you paid it)

Answer 3

No.  He basically is saving money into an account, and that money that he puts in a special account (called the HRA), is what he's using to pay the medical bills that the insurance isn't paying.

Likely, he gets to save the money into the account, with pre-tax dollars.

Answer 4

Like they said, with a high deductible health plan, the insurance company doesn't actually come into play in terms of helping with costs until that deductible is met. Which in most cases doesn't happen within any given year unless something major were to occur and land someone in the hospital.

Something that can help or be used along with a high deductible plan, and help cut the out of pocket expenses throughout the year, is Ameriplan. You can take a look at the site at http://www.mybenefitsplus.com/cberney

I personally use the plan as well and have for over 2 years. I also know many people who use our plan along side of a high deductible plan and find it works best for them, and helps keep their monthly costs down and yet gets them all they need should an accident occur and land them in the ER.

Let me know if there is anything I can help with or if you have questions.

Good Luck and hopefully you will find something that will help you out with this or at least prevent it so it doesn't happen again.