HealthPartners now offering lifestyle spending accounts

The customizable, employer-funded accounts allow businesses to attract and retain employees while supporting physical, emotional and financial health

Aug 17, 2023— HealthPartners today announced that it’s offering lifestyle spending accounts (LSAs) to employers for the coming year, complementing other health benefits to help organizations create a comprehensive culture of health.

“Health and wellbeing are often determined by what happens outside of a clinic or a hospital. By offering LSAs, we’re supporting businesses that want to help influence health beyond traditional medical and dental benefits,” said Jennifer Danielson, Chief Health Plan Officer at HealthPartners. “These spending accounts can also help organizations sharpen their competitive edge so that they’re recruiting and retaining employees who are looking for a well-rounded set of benefits.”

Unlike other common spending accounts, which often have maximum and minimum employer contribution, LSAs are post-tax without restrictions on employer contributions. By electing to offer the spending account through its health plan, an employer can improve employee experience and reduce confusion about which organizations employees need to work with for their health expenses.

The eligible expenses can be tailored by employers to meet the needs of their employee populations. Examples of eligible expenses include:

• Physical wellbeing: Gym memberships, new running shoes, subscription to healthy meal kit services, race entry fees or fitness event registration fees.
• Financial wellbeing: financial planning seminars, identity theft services, supplemental health products
• Emotional wellbeing: Non-medical counseling, spiritual retreats, state parks passes, sporting licenses

The spending accounts will be available to fully insured and self-insured employers of any size.