Simple, Pay-as-You-Go
Benefits
Employers fund approved claims as they occur, plus applicable administration fees and taxes. No upfront deposit is required.
Sets up the HSA plan, determines annual benefit amounts for eligible employees, and funds approved claims.
Pays for eligible healthcare expenses upfront, submits claims through the Coastal HSA portal, and receive reimbursement for approved claims.
Provides the online platform, establishes the HSA plan structure, reviews claims for eligibility, facilitates reimbursements, and provides customer support.
Health Spending Accounts
HSA Plan Structure + Guidelines
A Health Spending Account (HSA) is a CRA-recognized Private Health Services Plan (PHSP) that allows employers to reimburse employees for eligible health care expenses. The following rules and requirements outline the structure of our Health Spending Accounts and are designed to support compliance with CRA requirements.
04
Claim Date Eligibility
Coverage begins on your plan start date. Only expenses incurred on or after that date are eligible. Plan start dates cannot be backdated under CRA rules.
05
Health Expenses
Expenses listed on the Coastal HSA Eligible Health Expenses List qualify for reimbursement. Some items require supporting documentation and are marked with an asterisk (*).
Build a health benefits plan around your team
With a Health Spending Account (HSA), you can set annual health benefit allocations for different employee classes based on your business structure and benefits strategy. Here’s how a plan for a team of 10 could look.
Three employee classes with different annual allocations
Senior Management
Professional Staff
Administrative Support
What could this cost your business?
Here’s an example of your estimated first-year cost in British Columbia, including eligible employee reimbursements, Coastal HSA administration fees, GST, and the one-time setup fee.
Estimates assume all claims are eligible and approved, the 7% administration fee applies to approved claims, and 5% GST applies to administration and setup fees. The setup fee is included once in the first-year total. Actual costs depend on claims submitted.
Important: This is an illustrative example, not a recommended allocation for every business. Employee classes should be based on objective, defensible criteria, and employees performing the same or similar duties should generally receive consistent benefits. Actual allocations must comply with applicable CRA rules.
100+ Eligible HSA Expenses
* Items with an asterisk require a prescription or written confirmation from a licensed medical practitioner to qualify. A licensed or registered medical practitioner must be recognized in the employee’s province and acting within their authorized scope of practice for the expense to qualify.
- Exams
- Cleanings & Polishing
- Oral Hygiene
- X-rays
- Gum Treatments
- Repair
- Root canals
- Fillings
- Tooth extractions
- Denture repair and replacement
- Orthodontic work, including braces paid to a medical practitioner or a dentist. Expenses for solely cosmetic procedures are not covered.
- Eyeglasses
- Contact lenses
- Optician, Optometrist, Ophthalmologist
- Laser Eye Surgery
- Acupuncturist (R.Ac.)
- Anesthesiologist
- Athletic Therapist (must provide professional registration number)
- Audiologist
- Chiropodist
- Chiropractor (DC)
- Clinical Counselor (RCC)
- Dermatologist*
- Dietitian or Nutritionist (Registered)
- Gynaecologist (Ob. Gyn)
- Homeopath (Registered Professional)
- Kinesiology (Ontario only; must provide professional registration number)
- Massage Therapist (must be provincially registered). Any tips are not eligible for reimbursement.
- Midwife (Registered)
- Naturopath (ND). Over-the-counter vitamins, supplements, and herbal products are not eligible. All drugs must be dispensed by a licensed pharmacist to be eligible for reimbursement.
- Neurologist
- Nurse (RN, LPN, NP)
- Occupational Therapist
- Orthopedist
- Osteopath (must have a certificate or be licensed in the jurisdiction where the individual resides)
- Pharmacist
- Physician (MD), Pediatrician, Podiatrist (DPM), Surgeon
- Physiotherapist (B.PhysT, B.ScPhysio, B.Physio, CPTA)
- Plastic Surgeon (must be medically required with doctor certification)*
- Prosthetist
- Psychiatrist (MD)
- Psychoanalyst
- Psychologist (R. Psych)
- Psychotherapist (RP)
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Respiratory Therapist
- Social Worker (RSW, MFT)
- Speech Therapist (SLP)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (TCM)
- X-Ray Technician
- Any prescription medicine obtained through a licensed pharmacist is eligible. Please include a copy of your prescription and payment receipt when submitting your claim.
- Cosmetic surgery – considered a medical expense if performed for medical or reconstructive purposes, such as correcting a congenital deformity or an injury from an accident
- COVID tests – completed and processed by a lab or pharmacy
- Electrolysis – amounts paid to a qualified medical practitioner
- Fertility-related procedures – expenses for medical treatment or hospitalization for conception of a child (expenses for a surrogate mother are not covered)
- Laser eye surgery – amounts paid to a medical practitioner or a public or licensed private hospital
- Medical services provided outside of Canada – eligible if paid to a medical practitioner or a public or licensed private hospital while traveling
- MRI, ultrasound, and X-ray treatments
- Treatment centre for a person addicted to drugs, alcohol, or gambling*
- Diagnostic tests – non-holistic tests such as electrocardiographs, stool examinations, blood sugar tests, metabolism tests, radiological services, urine analysis, spinal fluid tests, allergy and asthma testing* (cannot be prescribed by a naturopath or nutritionist)
- Women's Hormone Health (Science&Humans)
- Men's Hormone Health (Science&Humans)
- Weight Optimization (Science&Humans)
- Women's Fertility (Science&Humans)
- Men's Fertility (Science&Humans)
- Perimenopause & Menopause (Science&Humans)
- Andropause (Science&Humans)
- Air conditioner – for a person with a severe chronic illness, disease, or disorder (eligible amount is $1,000 or 50% of the cost, whichever is less)*
- Air filter, cleaner, or purifier – for severe chronic respiratory ailment*
- Apparatus or materials – paid directly to a doctor, dentist, nurse, or hospital
- Mobility devices – designed to assist an individual with a mobility impairment in walking
- Baby breathing monitor – with written certification from a medical practitioner confirming risk of sudden infant death syndrome*
- Bathroom aids – to help a person get in or out of a bathtub or shower, or on and off a toilet*
- Brace – for a limb or spine
- Braille devices – note takers, printers, synthetic speech systems, large print-on-screen devices, computer peripherals, and similar equipment for individuals who are blind*
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices and supplies
- Crutches
- Diabetic supplies and devices
- Electronic bone healing device*
- Exercise equipment – prescribed by a physician for treatment or recovery from an illness or injury*
- Hearing aids or personal assistive listening devices, including repairs and batteries
- Blood coagulation monitoring devices, pacemakers, including repairs and batteries*
- Hospital bed – if required for use in the home*
- Incontinence supplies – catheters, catheter trays, tubing, etc.*
- Orthotic inserts, orthopedic shoes or boots*
- Oxygen and related equipment*
- Phototherapy equipment – for treating psoriasis or other skin disorders
- Prosthetics – including artificial limbs
- Renovation expenses – specifically required for a person with a mobility impairment (doctor confirmation required)*
- Support hose or compression stockings – to relieve swelling*
- TENS or electrotherapy devices*
- Wheelchair, scooter, power-operated chair, or lifts – for individuals with mobility impairment*
- Wigs – for individuals with abnormal hair loss due to an accident, disease, or medical treatment*
- Doctor’s note or form completed by a doctor
- Employee premiums paid to a non-government health, dental, or vision plan (e.g., Blue Cross)
- Gluten-free products (only the cost difference from a standard product is eligible)*. A celiac diagnosis is required. Include this diagnosis in your first claim.
- Home care – for an illness or disability*
- Private healthcare – when membership or access fees to a private medical clinic are prepayment for eligible medical expenses
- School – for individuals with mental or physical impairments* (subject to additional conditions; please contact us before claiming)
- Travel for healthcare – when equivalent medical services are not available near your home and travel is reasonably direct and necessary* (subject to additional conditions; please contact us before claiming)
- Travel insurance – emergency medical coverage only
- Ambulance – to and from the hospital
- Hospital bills
- Vaccines*
Flexible health benefits
start here
Explore our plans below for a firsthand look at our HSA Health Wallets.