Overview
(This article is for Members with an HSA Classic, Enhanced, Rollback or Rollover. For those with an HSA Select, please see: Claim carry-forward for HSA Select)
Your Blendable Plan may include one or more benefit types, like a Health Spending Account (HSA) or an Enhanced Health Blend (EHB).
Each works a little differently when it comes to how and when you can use your benefits.
This article breaks down what that means for you, so you can get the most from your Plan and avoid any surprises when it’s time to submit a claim.
The Details
Health Spending Accounts (HSA Classic, Rollback, or Rollover)
Your Health Spending Account (HSA) is tied to a Benefit Period, a set window of time when you can use your contributions to reimburse eligible expenses. The service date on your receipt must fall within that window to qualify.
Here’s the short version:
- You can only use contributions from the current Benefit Period to cover expenses dated in the same period.
- Once your Benefit Period ends, your unused contributions are handled based on your HSA type (Classic, Rollback, or Rollover).
HSA Benefit Period basics
- Start and end dates: Your Benefit Period begins on your Plan’s renewal date and ends one year later. Some Plans may have a shorter first year if they start mid-cycle or make a change to the Plan features.
- Eligible expenses: Health and dental expenses with service dates between your Benefit Period start and end date can be reimbursed using contributions from that same period.
Example:
If your Benefit Period runs January 1 – December 31, 2025:
- A receipt dated March 2025 can only be reimbursed with 2025 contributions.
- Contributions added in January 2026 can’t be used for 2025 receipts.
- If you contributed $1,000 but submitted $1,200 in eligible receipts, you’d be reimbursed up to $1,000 — once those contributions are used up, that’s it for the year.
What happens to unused HSA contributions
- HSA Classic: Unused contributions carry forward to the next Benefit Period.
- HSA Rollback: Unused contributions roll back to your Plan Sponsor on a set timeline (one or two years).
- HSA Rollover: Unused contributions roll over to an RRSP account with our partner Assumption on a set timeline.
Submitting HSA claims on time
You can submit your claims anytime during your Benefit Period, and for a short window after it ends.
- HSA Classic: Up to 90 days after your Benefit Period ends.
- Rollback & Rollover: Up to 30 days after your Benefit Period ends.
You can see your Benefit Period dates and contribution details anytime in your Member Centre under HSA feature > Feature contributions.
Enhanced Health Blends (EHB)
Enhanced Health Blend (EHB) works a little differently as it operates with set coverage categories and maximums.
Each category (like vision, paramedical, or dental) has a limit on what your Plan will cover within a specific time frame, for example, Vision: $200 every 24 months.
Once you reach the limit for a category, that’s the maximum the Plan will pay until your limit resets.
EHB basics
- Some Plans also have an HSA feature. If maximums are met on the EHB, HSA funds may be available for the reimbursement of eligible expenses.
- Defined coverage amounts: Each benefit category has its own dollar limit or frequency rule (for example, Massage therapy: $500 per person per year).
- No carry-forward: Once the limit is reached, no additional reimbursement is available until it resets.
- Automatic resets: EHB limits reset annually, though some categories within those EHBs may reset over the course of 24 months or longer depending on your plan.
Example:
If your Plan covers Vision Services: $200 every 24 months and your new glasses cost $350, your EHB covers $200, the category maximum. You’d be responsible for the remaining $150.
Common EHB categories
- Vision Services: $200 every 24 months
- Massage therapy: $500 per person per year
- Chiropractic or physiotherapy: $300 per person per year
- Dental: Percentage coverage (for example, 80% of eligible basic dental services) up to an annual maximum
Submitting EHB claims
You can submit your claims anytime during your Benefit Period, and for a short window after it ends. You’ll have 30 days post Benefit Period to submit any claims incurred in that Benefit period.
Anything Else
You can always check your Member Centre to confirm which benefits you have, HSA, EHB, or both, and to see your current limits, Benefit Period dates, and claim deadlines.
Remember:
- HSA = you’re working with a balance of contributions within a Benefit Period.
- EHB = you’re working with set category limits that reset on their own schedule.
Still not sure what applies to your Plan? Reach out using the Support form in your Member Centre or email hello@blendable.ca. We’re here to help!