FAQ

Maximize benefit offerings with Visa Healthcare cards

HSAs and tax-advantaged healthcare programs provide attractive savings for both employers and employees. Supplementing these innovative programs with a Visa Healthcare card can improve enrollment, increase satisfaction in healthcare programs, and reduce paperwork.

What are Visa Healthcare cards?

Visa Healthcare cards help connect benefit account holders with their account funds. Whether the account is an HRA, FSA, or HSA, the respective Visa card allows direct access to those funds. Rather than having to pay out-of-pocket for qualified medical expenses and then filing for reimbursement from the HSA or healthcare benefit account, Visa Healthcare cardholders can access their HSA and benefit account funds directly—making the transaction easy and worry-free. Visa Healthcare cards can also be issued in connection with Transit, Dependent Care, and Wellness programs.

How are Visa Healthcare cards used?

Visa Healthcare cards can be used to easily pay for any qualified medical expenses (allowed by the benefit plan). Because FSA/HRA cards are issued with Merchant Category Code (MCC) restrictions, as per IRS guidelines, they can therefore only be used at eligible healthcare provider and merchant locations that accept Visa debit cards and at IIAS participating merchants. HSA cards, however, can be issued either with or without MCC restrictions, depending on preference for program structure, and can either be permitted at any merchant location that accepts Visa debit cards or restricted to healthcare merchant locations only.

How do I get Visa Healthcare cards?

To learn how you can add Visa Healthcare cards to your HSA or benefits program, start with our Partner Directory. You'll be able to easily search by type of partner and/or product offering. After identifying partners who meet your criteria, simply contact them directly.

How do both employees and employers benefit from Visa Healthcare cards?

Visa cards make accessing healthcare, transit, and other HSA and benefit funds easier for both employees and employers. Employees are often more willing to participate (sometimes even at higher contribution levels) in employer benefit programs when they know a Visa card is attached to their HSA or benefit account. And since these accounts are tax-advantaged, employees may benefit from greater tax savings. For any pre-tax contributions, employers may also realize reduced payroll tax liability. In addition, Visa Healthcare cards reduce the hassle associated with reimbursement, since the card directly accesses the funds in the benefit account.

What if a particular healthcare merchant does not accept Visa debit cards?

Participants should use another form of payment for the qualified medical expense, retain an itemized receipt, follow rules and requirements of their plan, and then:

• file for reimbursement from the plan administrator if enrolled in an FSA/HRA account
• self-reimburse if enrolled in an HSA account.

Can Visa Healthcare cards be used to purchase items from Internet healthcare merchants?

Yes, as long as the items are qualified medical expenses and are covered by the benefit plan. An itemized receipt should be obtained.

Why do employees need to save itemized receipts?

Itemized receipts should always be retained as proof of qualified medical purchases. The benefits plan (or the IRS) may require documentation on how these funds were spent.

What if there are not enough funds in the account to cover qualified expenses?

Transactions will generally be declined if there are insufficient funds in the account. The cardholder should determine how much of the total to cover with the remaining funds and then pay for the balance using a different payment method.

Where can I find more information on HSAs?

Visit the website of the Department of the Treasury, Office of Public Affairs.

What if an employee has detailed questions about Visa Healthcare cards or a related healthcare account?

The employee should contact their plan provider with specific questions.