Can claims automatically move first to the HRA and then to the FSA or vice versa, depending on the plan structure?
A. It depends upon what the HRA document provides. It can provide that the FSA has to be exhausted before you reimburse from the HRA, or it can provide that the HRA pays first. Q. Could you structure the HRA/FSA interaction so that expenses that are covered (but not fully paid) by the medical plan are payable by the HRA, and only expenses that are not covered by the medical plan are payable by the FSA? A. Yes. You can also vary this approach so that the FSA could begin paying expenses covered by the medical plan once the HRA is exhausted.
