Frequently Asked Questions

Related Topics

HSA Member Setup

Question: Is it a requirement to set up HSA accounts under a separate member number?

Answer: HSA share drafts may be added to an existing member if the draft ID is different than the member number. A new member number is required if the HSA is a share account and the member already has ACH posting to a share account.

ACH Deposits to HSA Accounts

Question: How do I set up ACH deposits to credit the members HSA share draft account?

Answer: Complete the following steps:

  1. Verify that your ACH default table is set up to match draft ID first. If not currently in place, the ACH control table must be set up using the ACH Processing Rules window. The Match Members On 1 field on the ACH Processing Rules window must be Share Draft ID.
  2. Create the member’s HSA share draft type and assign a draft ID that is not the same as the member number. The draft ID is required even if the member does not have actual checks.
  3. The draft ID must be used for all HSA activity. The member must contact the ACH originator to initiate direct deposit and provide the draft ID as the member identification number.

Question: How do I set up ACH deposits to credit the members HSA share account?

Answer: The member must contact the ACH originator to initiate direct deposit. If multiple share accounts exist under one member number, consider the following options:

  • If the member has multiple share accounts and one is an HSA, and the member is already posting ACH to a regular savings account on the same member, you cannot post to an HSA share. A new member number is required. The new member number must have the HSA share type selected from the ACH Savings Account drop-down list located on the ACH tab. All ACH savings activity will post to the ACH savings account type. Future development will allow posting to an HSA share when the member has more than one share account.
  • If the member has multiple share accounts and one is an HSA, and the member is not currently posting ACH to a regular savings account on the same member, the HSA share must be selected from the ACH Savings Account drop-down list located on the ACH tab. All ACH savings activity will post to the HSA savings account type. If, in the future, the member wishes to post ACH deposits to a different share type other than HSA, they cannot. Future development will allow posting to individual shares when the member has multiple share accounts.
  • Other options may include setting up a Transfer File distribution or payroll distributions from a regular share to an HSA share.

HSA Debt Cards

Question: Is a new BIN required for HSA debit cards?

Answer: Yes, Visa and MasterCard require a new BIN for Health Savings Account (HSA) Cards. We recommend you contact your Visa or MasterCard representative to obtain additional information regarding their position on HSA account access through the use of Visa or MasterCard product offerings. You must also contact your client partner for debit card implementation.

Portico Health Savings Account (HSA) debit card processing will support the auto-substantiated details when received from the Visa and Maestro (MasterCard) networks. The Visa and Maestro networks may include auto-substantiated details in the online message. Health care auto-substantiation refers to the process of automatically validating, or substantiating, against an Inventory Information Approval System (IIAS) that merchandise being purchased using a health benefit payment card qualifies as a valid healthcare related item.

Auto-substantiation detail, depending on the network, may include information to show whether the transaction was verified against an IIAS as being for a valid health care related expense, or an expense related to prescriptions, vision care, health clinic, or dental clinic charges. The detail may also show the total dollar amount of the purchase that applies specifically to healthcare. As an example, a cardholder may purchase aspirin, contact lens solution, bread, and soup in a single purchase. The cardholder swipes their HSA debit card, and if the Visa and Maestro networks send the auto-substantiate details, the dollar amount for the valid healthcare items (aspirin and contact lens solution) is approved as a partial-approval of the entire purchase. The cardholder then needs to use another form of payment to purchase the remaining items.

All HSA accounts should be set up with a separate BIN and be classified at the networks as an HSA BIN, so that the BIN will be properly identified in the BIN routing file. If your credit union does not have a unique BIN for HSA accounts, and instead uses a standard consumer BIN to process HSA transactions, your credit union will probably not receive this auto-substantiated detail in the online message, since neither Visa or Maestro have the proper code assigned to your BIN in the BIN routing files. To find out if your HSA BIN is classified at the networks as an HSA BIN and to find out if your HSA debit card program includes auto-substantiation, contact your Visa or MasterCard representative.

Auto-substantiation detail may appear on the CD10 - Cardholder Transaction Detail Report, if your credit union issues HSA cards registered with Visa or Maestro. This additional information will appear for Visa and Maestro transactions in which healthcare related items were auto-substantiated (validated) as qualified healthcare related items.

HSA Overdraft Protection

Question: Can I offer overdraft protection from a share or loan to my HSA share draft account?

Answer: No, Portico does not support HSA overdraft protection or Courtesy Pay processing at this time.