Are health savings accounts and Healthcare reimbursement accounts the same thing?

[ChristinaS]

No, they are not.

HSAs are essentially tax-deferred investment accounts. Employers and employees can pay in tax-free, and distributions are tax free so long as used for medical expenses. The employee/ HSA account holder can use the money at will, and pay a penalty if not used for medical. HSAs have limitations and rules beyond that.

With HRAs, employers can reimburse their employees for actual medical expenses. Unlike an HSA, an employee cannot make tax deductible contributions or control the money. Its just a way to get some help from your employer when you have medical expenses. There are no hard limitations to how much your employer can give you for medical expenses.

There are numerous other differences, with the only real similarity being that medical expenses are part of both of these. But the similarities pretty much end there.