An HRA involves you in your health care spending
If you're looking for a way to manage the costs of your health care in a way that you control, using the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) your employer has established with your medical plan is a great place to start. Since your employer sets up and funds the HRA entirely, most of the work is done for you.
Your HRA is important, because your health plan may have a high deductible -- meaning the amount of money you must spend out of your own pocket before your benefits for covered services begin to be paid. An HRA helps offset that deductible, giving you access to additional funds in a way that also saves money on taxes.
How HRAs work…and help you manage health care costs
Using an HRA is simple.
Accessing your HRA funds
If you have automatic reimbursement, which is determined by your employer, and use a network provider, your provider will submit a claim to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. We will process the claim in accordance with your health plan design and pay the provider (on your behalf) any HRA amount that applies. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits form showing how payment was applied.
Or, if your HRA plan provides you a debit card and you use a network provider, your provider will submit a claim to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Then you have additional choices. You can either pay with your HRA debit card and receive an Explanation of Benefits form showing how payment was applied, or you can wait until the claim is processed and you receive an Explanation of Benefits form to pay the provider with your HRA debit card.
If you have questions about how an HRA from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee works, our Consumer Coaches are ready to help. Just call 1-800-527-9206 or e-mail ConsumerCoach@BCBST.com
for assistance.