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What Do I Do If a Patient's HSA/ FSA Card Fails?

What Do I Do If a Patient's HSA/ FSA Card Fails?

While HSA/FSA card processing failures are not common, they do sometimes occur. 

Why HSA/FSA Cards May Be Declined 

  • Ineligible Item(s): Even if most of a patient’s purchase is eligible, one ineligible item can cause the entire transaction to decline.
  • Insufficient Funds
  • Card Not Activated or ExpiredMerchant Issues: Very rarely, payment processors (like Stripe) can have issues with charging HSA/FSA cards correctly due to how the purchase is coded in their system.
  • Daily Spending LimitsAdministrative Holds/Missing Information: The plan administrator may have placed a hold due to a pending verification or delay in funding.

Helping Patients Use Alternative Payment Methods for Reimbursement

  1. Use an Alternative Payment Method: Patients may complete their purchase using a personal debit or credit card if the HSA/FSA card is declined.
  2. Request Reimbursement with an Itemized Receipt: Patients should save a receipt that includes the date, merchant, and itemized list of purchases. They can then submit it to their HSA/FSA administrator to request reimbursement, if the purchase qualifies.

Pharmacy Tips

Help reduce failed HSA/FSA transactions by educating patients:

  • Post common reasons on your website or in-store.
  • Share what they can do if their card is declined.

If you have any further questions about HSA/FSA card processing on Nimble, please contact your Client Partner.