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A Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or HRA, is a plan offered to employees that will reimburse certain qualified medical expenses tax-free. Your individual HRA will be unique to what your business offers, but the basic eligible medical expenses and non-eligible medical expenses are the same. Understanding which expenses qualify under the HRA can help you get the most out of your plan.
HRA Qualified Medical Expenses for 2012
Under each HRA plan, there will be qualified medical expenses. These expenses include a certain amount that will be covered for the prevention, treatment, or diagnosis of certain medical conditions or illnesses as defined under Section 213(d) of the IRS Code.
For example, some of the common qualified medical expenses for 2012 HRA plans are ambulance fees, prescription birth control pills, acupuncture, dental treatment, chiropractic care, crutches, diabetes blood sugar test devices, eye glasses, hearing aid and batteries, laser eye surgery, lab fees, sterilization, surgery, optometrist, physician prescribed stop-smoking programs, x-rays and a list of dozens more eligible medical expenses.
HRA Non-Qualified Medical Expenses for 2012
There are also medical expenses that are not eligible for the HRA plan, including over-the-counter medications without a prescription, which became ineligible for HRA’s, along with Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts, as of January 1st 2011. Any medical expenses that occurred before you signed up for your HRA will not qualify under the HRA.
Other non-qualified medical expenses for 2012 include health club memberships, cosmetic surgery, bottled water, diaper service, hair transplant, maternity clothing, nutritional supplements, and other expenses.
The HRA provided by your company lets you receive reimbursements that are tax-free from medical expenses you are going to make throughout the year. If you know ahead of time that you will have many of the expenses that qualify for 2012, it can be extremely beneficial for you to sign up for your company’s HRA plan.
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