HOW THE HSA WORKS

AFTER MEETING YOUR DEDUCTIBLE

Once you ’ve met your deductible, your health care benefits begin. You can still use any remaining HSA funds to pay your share of expenses (coinsurance) for covered benefits. And you ’ll still receive BCBSNC's discounted rate when you visit participating providers.

ENHANCED PREVENTIVE CARE

With Blue Options HSA, you ’re covered for certain preventive care services before you’ve met your deductible.⁸ Just visit your provider as you normally would and show your BCBSNC ID card. You can keep yourself healthy through a variety of preventive procedures including:

SAVE NOW. SAVE LATER.

Each year as your HSA balance grows, it accrues interest tax-free and any qualified payments made from it are also tax-free.⁵ You can put aside funds for long-term care, future medical expenses, or even retirement. Additionally, whenever the balance in your account exceeds a specific amount, you may elect to invest contributions in a selection of Dreyfus mutual funds, subject to any minimum investment required by such funds.⁹

• Save up to 50%on premiums ¹⁰
• Tax-deductible HSA contributions
• Tax-free HSA payments and interest
• Long-term investment options

LARGE NETWORK WITH PROVIDER DISCOUNTS

Blue Options HSA offers BCBSNC's largest network of doctors, specialists and hospitals (and the freedom to go outside the network for care). And, BCBSNC has negotiated discounted rates with providers to ensure savings for you.  Even if you haven ’t met your deductible, you will still save money just by visiting providers in BCBSNC's large network. With a high-deductible health plan, BCBSNC's provider discounts matter now more than ever.

• In-and out-of-network benefits
• BCBSNC's largest network
• Access to specialists without referrals¹¹
• Worldwide coverage¹²
• Discounts for covered services in-network

1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Internal Data,2007.
2 BCBSNC does not administer your HSA. Your HSA custodian is Mellon Trust of New England, N.A. BCBSNC is not affiliated with your HSA custodian or administrator.
3 These amounts will be updated annually for inflation.For the most up-to-date information visit www.irs.gov .
4 The contributions made for the months preceding the individual ’s eligibility for the HDHP may be included in gross income and subject to a 10 percent additional tax if the employee loses eligibility for the HDHP before the last day of the 12th month following the last month of the taxable year in which the contribution was made.
5 Withdrawals are tax free only if used for qualified medical expenses. See www.irs.gov for specific regulations.
6 Availability of The ACS/Mellon HSA Solution investment alternative is subject to HSA account balance minimums.
7 A transfer from an IRA to an HSA is subject to the annual contribution limits. The contributions made for the months preceding the individual ’s eligibility for the HDHP may be included in gross income and subject to a 10 percent additional tax if the employee loses eligibility for the HDHP before the last day of the 12th month following the month of contribution.
8 Includes in-network annual routine physical exam, well-baby and well-child care and certain immunizations and screenings. Other covered services may be subject to deductible and coinsurance.
9 Dreyfus is made available by Mellon. BCBSNC is not affiliated with your investment fund.
10 Compared to Blue Advantage ® Plan A with a $$2,500 deductible for a 44-year old male in Raleigh on Preferred Risk Tier based on 2007 rates.
11 Referrals may be needed for mental health and substance abuse services.
12 You are covered in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide through the BlueCard ® program;;www.bcbs.com/news/press/facts/bluecard.html .