IRS rules allow you to reimburse yourself for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses at any time, whether that’s the same day, years later, or even decades into the future.¹
The key requirements are:
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Your HSA must have been established at the time the expense was incurred (based on the date of service),² and
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The expense cannot have been reimbursed by any other source.
This flexibility allows you to treat your HSA as both a tax-advantaged health savings vehicle and a potential emergency savings tool.
1. “Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2004-2: III. Contributions to HSAs. Q-24. When is an Individual Permitted to Receive Distributions from an HSA?” Internal Revenue Service, January 12, 2004. https://www.irs.gov/irb/2004-02_IRB, 2. “§ 262; 1.262-1. Medical, Dental, Etc., Expenses.” Internal Revenue Service. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rr-99-28.pdf.
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