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The Daily Insight

Can an HRA pay for insurance premiums?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Apr 06, 2026

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) isn’t traditional health coverage through a job. Your employer contributes a certain amount to the HRA. You use the money to pay for qualifying medical expenses. For some types of HRA, you can also use the money to pay monthly premiums for a health plan you buy yourself.

What is the maximum HRA contribution for 2020?

$1,800
Contributions per employee are limited to $1,800 in 2020, regardless of family status. EBHRA money can be used only to reimburse excepted benefits.

What is HRA employer contribution?

An HRA, or health reimbursement arrangement, is a kind of health spending account provided and owned by an employer. The money in it pays for qualified expenses, like medical, pharmacy, dental and vision, as determined by the employer. Other key things to know about HRAs are: Only your employer can put money in an HRA.

Does an HRA cover deductible?

A Your HRA contribution is 100% tax deductible. Also, the money you put in your employees’ HRA is not reported as income, so they’re getting tax-free money to use for their medical needs.

What is the maximum HRA limit?

50%
Claim Rules for HRA Your allotted HRA cannot exceed more than 50% of your basic salary. As a salaried employee, you cannot claim for the full rental amount you are paying. Your exemption will be based on the least of the below mentioned options: The actual amount allotted by the employer as the HRA.

How much tax is exempt from HRA?

An Illustration

ConditionTax Exemption
1Rs 60, 000 (@Rs 5000 Per Month, according to the HRA exemption 2016-17 rules, earlier the limit was Rs 2, 000)
2Rent paid i.e. 1.5 Lakhs – 10% of the total annual income, i.e. Rs 40, 000= Rs 1, 10, 000
325% of the total income= Rs 1 Lakh

Is there a limit on HRA contributions?

A There are no annual or lifetime contribution limits. You can set limits for the plan you’re offering. Q What are the tax benefits of an HRA?

Can HRA reimburse Medicare premiums?

The following types of insurance premiums are all HRA-qualified, provided they’re not already paid with pre-tax dollars: Major medical individual health insurance premiums. Dental care and vision care premiums. Medicare Part A or B, Medicare HMO, and employer-sponsored health insurance premiums.

What can I spend my HRA money on?

HRAs can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses, which include prescription medications, insulin, an annual physical exam, crutches, birth control pills, meals paid for while receiving treatment at a medical facility, care from a psychologist or psychiatrist, substance abuse treatment, transportation costs …

What qualifies for HRA reimbursement?

Can a large employer offer Individual Coverage HRA?

an Exchange and the HRA doesn’t cover the full premium, the employer could permit the employee to pay the balance of the premium for the coverage on a pre-tax basis through its cafeteria plan, subject to other applicable regulations. Q10. Can large employers offer Individual Coverage HRAs too? Yes.

How are HRAs used in a health plan?

Among other medical care expenses, Individual Coverage HRAs can be used to reimburse premiums for individual health insurance chosen by the employee, promoting employee and employer flexibility, while also maintaining the same tax-favored status for employer contributions towards a traditional group health plan.

What are the limits for retiree only HRAS?

In 2018, the threshold plan value amounts for active employees will be $10,200 for self-only coverage and $27,500 for family coverage. Different thresholds apply to retirees age 55 to 64: $11,850 for self-only and $30,950 for family. Those dollar limits cover the sum of your contribution to the health plan and those of your employees.

Is the tax credit rule based on the HRA?

tax credit rule being issued as part of the HRA rule and is based, in part, on the amount the employer makes available under the HRA. Therefore, if you are an applicable large employer and want to avoid an employer mandate payment by offering an Individual Coverage HRA, in