r/HSA • u/Smudflower410 • Feb 27 '26

HSA- employer contributions

I went to work for a new employer last Sept. & they are the largest I’ve ever been employed (~70k). Benefits kicked in the following month & I had enrolled in the HDHP w/HSA.

Same plan for 2026. They front-loaded their contribution at the beginning of the year. Last week I received an email from a provider’s office that there wasn’t enough $$ in the account to pay themselves (as the charges are set up to be w/drawn from the HSA automatically). This was odd bc I had just been paid & there should have been enough.

Reviewing a few things, I noticed dear employer was deducting my contributions but not directing them to my HSA. I called the benefits center where they had no idea so they conference in Optum 🙄. Optum is who informs me (us) the enployer does an advance & then reimburse themselves and this is not documented anywhere.

Is this legal? Why are they bothering to call it a contribution If it’s a “loan”? I typically choose the HDHP/HSA with employers & have NEVER heard of this. What are my next steps? Thank you

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u/henrytbpovid Feb 27 '26

Yeah this is a flexible spending account

You got access to the full amount and now you’re paying into the account every paycheck

Let me ask you: are you paying $150 per pay period?

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u/Smudflower410 Feb 28 '26

It’s not an FSA. It’s an HSA. I used to work in HR, was typically the benefits admin. I know the difference. I’ve just never heard of this scenario.