Small businesses often face challenges providing employee benefits to their staff while trying to manage costs. Insured group benefits can have a high starting price and cost can be hard to contain. One solution that has become increasingly popular with small Canadian businesses, is the use of health spending accounts (HSA). Health care spending accounts (HSA) are a flexible and cost-effective way for small businesses to provide employee benefits without being tied to an insurance company.

A health spending account (HSA) is a fund that an employer sets up to cover eligible tax-incentivized health care expenses for their employees. The employer determines how much money is allocated to each employee’s account, and the employee can then use that money to pay for a wide range of health care expenses, such as dental and vision care, prescription drugs, and medical equipment. One key advantage of a health spending account (HSA) is that it allows the employee in control how their health care funds are spent.  They can choose the health services they need and want or need, while accessing the tax-incentives of employer sponsored health benefits.

The major benefit to the employer is that it allows small businesses to control the costs of their employee health benefits. Unlike traditional insurance plans, where the employer pays premiums that may go up year after year, with a health spending account (HSA), the employer simply decides how much money to put into the pool, and the employee then uses that money to pay for their health care expenses. This means that the employer has greater control over their health care spending and can adjust the amount of money they allocate to the HSA based on their budget and the needs of their employees.

Another advantage of health spending accounts (HSA) is that they allow employees to choose how they want to use their benefits. They can still use the funds to purchase an extended health benefits plan from an insurance company, which may better protect them from unforeseen medical expenses, but they aren’t obliged to spend it that way. This level of flexibility is especially important for small businesses with diverse workforces that have different health care needs and preferences.

In addition, health spending accounts (HSA) offer tax advantages for both employers and employees. Employers can deduct the contributions they make to their health spending accounts (HSA) as a business expense, while employees do not have to pay tax on the funds they receive. This means that both parties can enjoy tax savings while providing and using health care benefits.

Small businesses in Canada that are looking to implement an employee benefits plan for the first time should consider health spending accounts (HSA). It provides total control of costs while accessing the same tax-incentives as insured benefits. It’s important to choose the right platform and broker to help administer and set health spending accounts (HSA) for it to remain an asset and not a burden or time-drain. Speak with a Red Helm Insurance expert to set up a health spending account (HSA).