Health Spending Account (HSA)

The Health Spending Account (HSA) is part of the Dalhousie benefits program available to DFA members. It allows you to claim reimbursement for eligible medical and dental expenses that are not fully covered by your regular health or dental plan.

The HSA provides additional flexibility to help cover health-related expenses for you and your eligible dependants.

Your Benefits: Don't Miss Out!

DFA publishes quick bulletins to help you get familiar with your benefits. Each issue highlights one or more of the benefits that you have access to under your Collective AGreement. Have a look, and click on the links in each issue to learn more through your Collective Agreement. Please contact benefits@dal.ca or call 902-494-1122 for more information.

HSA Overview

Annual entitlement: $1,000
Benefit year: July 1 to June 30
Claim deadline: September 30 following the end of the benefit year
Carry-forward: Unused balances can be carried forward for one additional year

You can access your full yearly allocation any time after July 1. Any credits that are not used during the carry-forward period will expire.

More information is available on Dalhousie’s HR site: Health Spending Account information (MyDal login required)

What Can the HSA Be Used For?

The HSA can be used to pay for eligible medical or dental expenses not covered by the standard benefits plan.

Examples may include:

Medical or dental expenses exceeding plan limits
Dispensing fees
Certain paramedical services such as massage therapy or acupuncture
Other medical expenses recognized under the Income Tax Act

For a complete list of eligible expenses, visit the Canada Revenue Agency website.

How to Submit an HSA Claim

HSA claims can be submitted in three ways:

Online through Blue Cross: Member Services Site
Through the Blue Cross mobile app: Download the mobile app
By mail using a paper claim form: Health Spending Account claim form (PDF)

Complete the paper form and mail it to the address indicated on the form.

You can also read more about the claims process here: How to submit a claim

Note: If you have single or waived health coverage, Blue Cross will not have information on file for your dependants. If you are submitting an HSA claim for a dependant in this situation, you will need to complete a paper claim form and submit it by mail.

Submitting a Claim Using the Mobile App

To submit an HSA claim using the Blue Cross mobile app:

Log into the mobile app on your device.
Select Submit a Claim.
Select Health Spending Account.
Choose the claim you want your HSA to cover. Previously paid claims with eligible balances remaining may appear automatically as HSA Eligible Claims.
If your claim does not appear in the list, submit a New Claim:
1. Select Submit a Claim from the main screen.
2. Select the Type of Claim you are submitting.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts. When asked “Would you like to use your HSA for any unpaid portion of your claim?” select Yes.

If you do not select Yes, Blue Cross will process the claim through your regular health or dental coverage only.

Can I Submit a Claim Directly Through My HSA?

The HSA pays the remaining balance after all other insurance plans have paid. This includes your Dalhousie health or dental benefits plan, any spousal or alternate benefit plans, and provincial health coverage.

For this reason, you should submit claims to all other plans first, and then use your HSA to cover any remaining eligible expenses.

If you submit a claim through Blue Cross, it will automatically process the claim through your health or dental plan before applying HSA funds.

Need Help With Your HSA?

If you have questions about submitting claims or coverage, contact:

Medavie Blue Cross
Phone: 1-800-667-4511

You may also contact Dalhousie Human Resources for questions about benefits coverage or dependants.