break in HDHP error

[wombat2554]

I have an HSA with a HDHP and family coverage. However, my family plan only covers myself and children. My wife has her own single HDHP with no HSA. My family plan doesn't cover her since she has her own plan through her employer. When I answer the questions for this section in TT it says it looks like she had a break in coverage. This is untrue and I can't see how to get past this question. 

[wombat2554]

Is there a live chat or phone support option?

[MonikaK1]

Just before you see the message stating that your spouse had a lapse in coverage, you should see the question, “What type of High Deductible Health Plan did [spouse] have on December 1, 2022?”.  The choices are Family, Self only, or None. 

If your spouse had been covered under your family plan, you might think you should answer Family to the question.  However, the answer should be None. 

It is referring to what type of plan your spouse held in their name on December 1, 2022.  If your spouse had their own separate HDHP on that date, then choose the type of plan that they had.  If instead your spouse was covered under the plan in your name, then you should choose None.

To go back to the section of your return to answer the questions again, use the following steps:

• On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
• This opens a box where you can type in “hsa” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
• The search results will give you an option to “Jump to hsa”
• Click on the blue “Jump to hsa” link and edit your information

If you prefer to speak to someone by phone, you can contact TurboTax Support for assistance.

TurboTax Live includes live chat support. See here for details.

[wombat2554]

Thank you for trying to answer my question. However, your instructions are telling me to enter the answers that I already entered (and caused the error). 

Just to be clear...

I checked the boxes for me having an HSA and "none of the above" for my wife

For myself I checked:

not inherited

contribution amount entered

no

no

yes, I was covered by an HDHP...

I was covered by a family plan

It was not overfunded

I see my HSA summary page

For my wife I have checked:

self only

When I click continue I get the page stating she had a break in coverage. There is no option for me to tell TT that she had no lapse in coverage.

[BillM223 · Accepted solution]

The reason that you are getting this message is because your spouse did not have an HSA, so, as a result, your spouse never had a chance to tell TurboTax that she had HDHP coverage.

The result is that when she is asked "What type of High Deductible Health Plan did [spouse] have on December 1, 2022?" when she answers truthfully, TurboTax misunderstands the answer.

If you spouse did not have an HSA in 2022, or had an HSA but did not contribute to it, or in no way could have used the last-month rule in 2022, then she should answer NONE.

We have asked the Developers to address this confusing question.

[ChicagoJ]

If I correctly entered in my TurboTax return my HSA contributions (the family max of $7,500) and I correctly entered my family deductions from the HSA (we had no deductions at all in 2023), then does it matter that I am (also) receiving the message about my wife having a break in high deductible coverage (even though she has been part of my family HDHC for the past several years)?

I think I understand WHY TurboTax is saying this, but I am hoping that as long as I enter the contributions and the deductions correctly I am safe.  Or, because I hit the family max for contributions, do I NEED to show my wife also having the HDHC all year (which she did have, even though TurboTax doesn't think so)?  FYI, I went into the SEARCH bar, typed "HSA," and I have NO OPTION to jump directly to HSA section to make changes.  Any other ideas there??  Thanks so much!!

[PaulaM]

If you are the owner of the HSA, then answer 'none' to the question 'What type of High Deductible Health Plan did [spouse] have on December 1, 2022?' This will remove the lapse in coverage question. Even your wife is covered under HDHP through your coverage, this is the proper way to answer.

For the 'jump to' links to work you have to have your return open, so select 'pick up where I left off' before typing 'HSA' in search box.

[csirene]

Thanks but there is 'jump to hsa' option for me

[DawnC]

You can get to the HSA questions from Less Common Income or Medical Deductions.   @csirene