Health Savings Account
Pinellas County provides the opportunity to open a Health Savings Account (HSA) through Optum Bank to employees who enroll in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA.
What is a Health Savings Account?
An HSA is a tax-deductible savings account available to individuals enrolled in an IRS-qualified high-deductible health plan like Pinellas County’s.
HSA contributions may be made by you or by the County. The HSA account belongs to you even when your employment with the County ends. Payroll contributions will cease in the last pay period in which your employment ends.
There is no “use it or lose it” provision, and the money rolls over from one year to the next. Your deposits earn interest and grow over time. This allows you to save money for future expenses or pay for current ones.
The money in your HSA may be used to pay for your medical plan deductible and qualified expenses for medical, dental, prescription, behavioral/mental health and vision. You may use HSA funds for a domestic partner or their children only if they qualify as a tax dependent under the Internal Revenue Code.
The IRS requires that the HSA account holder retains receipts for HSA expenses. The receipts will be required if audited by the IRS.
You are not eligible for an HSA if you have coverage through another high-deductible plan nor coverage under Medicare or Tricare.
Also see Health Savings Accounts from Optum Bank.
Contact Optum Bank
Website: www.OptumBank.com
App: Optum Bank
Phone: (866) 234-8913
Compare Health Savings Accounts with Flexible Spending Accounts.
Enrollment
Employees who want a Health Savings Account must enroll in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA. There are two opportunities for enrollment:
- When you are newly eligible, such as a new hire, a change to full time status or the loss of other coverage.
- During Annual Enrollment (held each fall).
While a physical address is required by Optum Bank in order to open the account (no P.O. Box), your P.O. Box can still be used as your mailing address.
Optum Bank offers one type of HSA account with opportunities to invest HSA funds in self-directed investment options. You must have a balance of $1,000 or greater in order to invest funds. You can choose between two investment options:
- Option 1: Self-Directed Mutual Funds – Choose from a wide variety of over 30 mutual funds that average a 4-star Morningstar rating and represent some of the lowest expense ratios in the industry, including life-stage funds.
- Option 2: Betterment Digitally Managed Investments – Betterment helps take the guesswork out of investing your HSA. Based on your HSA investment goals, Betterment will recommend a personalized portfolio of low-cost exchange traded funds (ETFs) and help keep your HSA investment on track through auto-deposits and automated rebalancing
For more information on investing HSA funds, visit Optum Bank’s HSA education resources.
Optum Bank sends a welcome kit with information on managing an HSA to new account holders within 7-10 days after the account is opened. A debit card is also provided to allow easy access to funds in the account. Additional cards are available for eligible family members.
Contributions
You must be enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA and have an open, active HSA with Optum Bank to receive contributions from Pinellas County and make your own contributions.
An HSA will automatically be opened for you once you enroll in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA.
During enrollment, you may elect to make pre-tax contributions to your HSA through payroll deductions. You may change or cancel your contributions at any time once your medical coverage is active by emailing employee.benefits@pinellas.gov. To view step-by-step instructions, see the HSA Contributions OPUS Screenshots Guide.
Your eligibility for HSA contributions ends if you:
- Discontinue coverage under the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA.
- Sign up for Medicare Part A or Part B.
- End employment with Pinellas County.
Pinellas County contributions are made approximately three weeks after the account is opened or the medical coverage is effective, whichever is later.
Annual Pinellas County HSA Contribution
| Coverage | 2025 Contribution |
|---|---|
| Employee Only | $500 |
| Family | $1,200 |
Maximum Annual Combined HSA Contribution from Pinellas County and Employee*
| Type of Contribution | 2025 Limit |
|---|---|
| Individual | $4,300 |
| Family | $8,550 |
*Includes Pinellas County’s contribution of $500 or $1,200. (Age 55+ catch up contribution remains at an additional $1,000.)
Deductible
High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA Deductible
| Coverage | 2025 Deductible |
|---|---|
| Employee Only | $1,650 |
| Family | $3,300 |
More Information
- View the IRS Publication 969 on Health Savings Accounts.
- Consult your tax advisor.
1/2/25