Employee Services
Health Reimbursement Arrangement FAQ's

1. Why does my employer have an HRA?
2. How do I know how much I will be reimbursed by the HRA?
3. How will I be reimbursed by the HRA?
4. What do I need to provide to receive my HRA reimbursement?
5. Who pays the provider or hospital when I have an HRA?
6. Who can access an Employer’s Health Reimbursement Arrangement?
7. If I have an HRA available, can I also participate in a Flexible Spending
   Account (FSA)?
8. Why does the debit card for my HRA plan say “SmartFlex?”

1. Why does my employer have an HRA?
Your employer added an HRA to prevent its employees from being fully impacted by the cost of health insurance. A Health Reimbursement Arrangement is a method to save premium dollars. Such plans reduce the employee contribution amounts taken from pay, and help to share in the out-of-pocket costs.

Back to question list

2. How do I know how much I will be reimbursed by the HRA?
Each HRA varies in design. Every HRA operates on a plan year cycle, which is a twelve month timeframe. The HRA may begin when the employer’s health plan renews, or at the start of a calendar year. Refer to the Summary Plan Description for a full explanation of the HRA offered by your employer.

Back to question list

3. How will I be reimbursed by the HRA?
Cornerstone most commonly provides reimbursement by checks made payable to the employee. Reimbursement is provided twice weekly, and can be requested by completing a claim form. A limited number of HRA plans use a Visa debit card for reimbursement.

Back to question list

4. What do I need to provide to receive my HRA reimbursement?
Cornerstone will process an HRA claim for reimbursement once a claim form, a copy of the provider bill, and the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) has been provided. The EOB is the statement provided by the insurance carrier.

Back to question list

5. Who pays the provider or hospital when I have an HRA?
With very few exceptions, all Cornerstone Health Reimbursement Arrangements provide reimbursement directly to the employee. Employees are then responsible for paying the provider or hospital bills with the monies provided.

Back to question list

6. Who can access an Employer’s Health Reimbursement Arrangement?
Generally, all employees eligible for the employer’s group health insurance coverage are eligible for reimbursement under the employer’s HRA. Specific requirements would be outlined in the Summary Plan Description for the HRA.

Back to question list

7. If I have an HRA available, can I also participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)?
Yes. A Flexible Spending Account election is employee dollars you chose to set aside through payroll deduction pre-tax. An HRA plan is employer dollars that are available to all eligible employees covered by the group health plan. Regulations prohibit employees from submitting the same claim to both the HRA plan and their Flexible Spending Account.

Back to question list

8. Why does the debit card for my HRA plan say “SmartFlex?”
Cornerstone’s program supporting the administration of the HRA program is SmartFlex. If a debit card has been provided for the Health Reimbursement Arrangement offered by the employer, the card may be used only where eligible HRA expenses could be incurred.

Back to question list