Overview
(This article is for Members with an HSA Classic, Enhanced, Rollback, Rollover and Wellness Spending Accounts. For those with an HSA Select, please see: Claims carry-forward for HSA Select)
Your Blendable Plan may include one or more benefit types, like a Health Spending Account (HSA, Wellness Spending Account (WSA) 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
Spending Accounts (HSA Classic, Rollback, or Rollover, Enhanced, Wellness)
Your Spending Account (HSA or WSA) 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:
- Typically, you can only use contributions in your HSA or WSA in 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 spending account type
Spending Account 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-year or make a change to the Plan features.
- Eligible expenses: Eligible expenses with service dates between your Benefit Period start and end date can be reimbursed using contributions in your spending account during that same period.
Example:
If your Benefit Period runs January 1 – December 31, 2025:
- A receipt dated March 2025 will be reimbursed with 2025 contributions.
- 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.
Submitting Spending Account claims on time
You can submit your claims anytime during your Benefit Period, and for a short window after it ends. The short time is dependant on your benefit feature and Plan design.
You can locate the dates for your benefit period and submission cutoff in your Member Centre. Finding your benefit period and claim submission cutoff will show you how.
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. Typically, you'll have 30 days post Benefit Period to submit any claims incurred in that Benefit period.
Just like with a Spending Account, Finding your benefit period and claim submission cutoff will help you locate that information in your Member Centre.
Anything Else
You can always check your Member Centre to confirm which benefits you have, and to see your current limits, Benefit Period dates, and claim deadlines.
Remember:
- Spending Accounts = 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!