The Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is a powerful new component of what is sometimes called a "consumer-driven" health plan or a "self-directed" health plan. Consumer-driven plans put you in control of how your benefit dollars are spent. These plan designs give you freedom of choice and control in return for greater involvement and responsibility for managing the account yourself. Your employer deposits money into your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). This money is available to you for qualified health care expenses.

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A plan with a HRA gives you choice and control over your health care decisions and expenditures. You have access to UnitedHealthcare's extensive national network of physicians, health care providers, and care facilities. You also have access to a wealth of information and self-service transactions through myuhc.com, including the ability to track your HRA balance and expenditures, claims information, geographic treatment cost estimators, and more. And, you have 24/7 access to our Nurseline, a round-the-clock phone center staffed with registered nurses to answer any health related questions or concerns you may have.

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Contributions to your HRA are funded by your employer at a fixed annual amount each year. Medical claims are submitted to your HRA for reimbursement. If you spend all the money in your account, you will be responsible for paying a certain amount for medical expenses, up to a pre-set limit (deductible), before traditional PPO coinsurance medical plan coverage begins. If you don't spend all the money in your account, the remaining balance rolls over to the next year's Health Reimbursement Account. This gives you the opportunity to build significant savings for future health care needs.

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You have greater financial control over how your health care dollars are spent. You also have more flexibility and choice, since you choose whether to visit a network provider and pay lower out-of-pocket costs or visit a non-network provider and pay higher out-of-pocket costs.

You also have the freedom to plan for future health expenditures because unused funds in your Health Reimbursement Account roll over year after year. However, with this greater freedom and control, you also assume greater responsibilities for managing your health care expenditures.

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Your responsibility is to manage your HRA account balance and to make good decisions about the health care services you and your family purchase. Myuhc.com offers several tools to help you research and choose good health care. Visit Health Topics and Tools or the Treatment Cost Estimator for more information.

Once you spend your entire HRA funds, you are responsible for meeting an annual deductible amount. Once you meet the deductible, traditional PPO coinsurance coverage takes over and will pay a portion of your expenses that exceed your annual deductible, up to an annual out-of-pocket maximum that caps your total costs. You are also responsible to pay the provider of your service when you are reimbursed from your HRA.

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The deductible is a fixed amount that you must pay annually for health care expenses and services before the traditional PPO coverage begins. In most plans, the eligible covered expenses that you pay for with your HRA can go towards meeting your annual deductible. This means your employer is, in a sense, paying for the first part of your deductible.

If you deplete your HRA prior to the plan’s year end and have additional medical expenses, you will be responsible for paying out-of-pocket expenses until your entire deductible amount is met. If, however, you don't use all your HRA funds in a year, they will automatically roll over to the next year's HRA balance, allowing you to build your balance and plan for future expenses.

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Yes - you are only required to pay expenses up to a certain out-of-pocket maximum. This amount is determined by your employer. Please consult your Plan Summary Description for details.

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No. There are some procedures - such as cosmetic surgery, experimental procedures and other services - that are not covered by your benefit plan. Please consult your Plan Summary Description for a complete list of coverage and exclusions for your HRA and medical plan.

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Yes. You have access to UnitedHealthcare’s nationwide network of PPO providers. You also do not need a referral to see any provider.

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Major medical services are covered benefits under the plan. Please see your Plan Summary Description for a detailed listing of benefit levels. Your share of this coverage would come out of your HRA if you have not already spent the money in your HRA on other covered services prior in the year.

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Each employer decides whether and how these preventive services are covered under their own plans. Please see your Plan Summary Description for details.

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Emergencies are covered anywhere in the world. We also offer services such as NurseLine and Optum Live Nurse Chat to help you manage health concerns. Nurseline is a 24/7 telephone service staffed by experienced, registered nurses. Live Nurse Chat is a real-time online chat service with registered nurses that is part of our website. Both services provide immediate access for nearly any health or medical concern.

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Check your Plan Summary Description, or Contact Us.

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Myuhc.com offers a variety of Web-based tools to help you plan your expenditures. Start with the Treatment Cost Estimator to see what certain treatments and procedures cost by geographic area. Visit Claims to compare your past service costs with future needs. We also encourage you ask your physician how much a service or procedure might cost.

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No. However, any unused dollars in your fund roll over year-to-year so your fund balance may grow depending upon how you choose to use your Health Reimbursement Account funds.

Please note that, that while you can't contribute to your HRA with your own money, if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you can contribute to that account for other expenses not covered by your medical plan or the HRA.

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No. Reimbursement made during a plan year is only made for eligible expenses incurred during the same plan year.

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If your incurred expenses in a plan year exceed the amount in your HRA, you are then required to pay expenses until you meet your deductible amount. Once you meet the deductible, a more traditional PPO health plan coverage begins. An out-of-pocket maximum exists to protect you from excessive expense. The deductible and out-of pocket limits are set by your employer.

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Your remaining funds in your HRA will be used in their entirety. Any further expense is your responsibility until you meet your annual deductible amount.

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Conditions at the termination of employment are determined by your employer. Please see your Plan Summary Description for complete details.

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At this time, HRA balances are not portable from employer to employer.

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Contact Us.

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