Skip to main content

Spending Accounts

Offer health, dental, and wellness choice plus self-service to employees. Only pay for what employees claim.

ADD FLEXIBILITY, TOP-UP A PLAN OR
CONTROL COSTS WITH A SPENDING ACCOUNT

Employees want more flexibility and choice when it comes to their benefits. With a spending account, employees can spend their dollars in a way that makes the most sense.

Stethoscope with a tooth icon

Health Care Spending
Account

Provide a non-taxable account that provides reimbursement for eligible health and dental items.

Dollar coins

Personal/Wellness Spending Account

Provide reimbursement for health and wellbeing options not typically covered under a benefits plan.

Two concentric circles with a $ sign within

Combination Spending Account

Standalone® Combination Spending Accounts brings together the coverage of a Health Care and Wellness Spending Account.

Wrench and a screwdriver

Build Your Own Account

Standalone® Build Your Own Account provides the ultimate flexibility for employers, allowing the plan to precisely accommodate specific needs.

0%

plan sponsors offer health spending accounts

The State of Health Care Spending Accounts (PDF: 39KB)
0%

plan members like having a health spending account

The State of Health Care Spending Accounts (PDF: 39KB)
0%

plan members without a health spending account would like one

The State of Health Care Spending Accounts (PDF: 39KB)

Health Care Spending Account

A Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) provides a non-taxable alternative or supplement to a traditional benefits plan. Employers select a dollar amount for their employees to spend on eligible expenses, and the employees decide how to spend the money. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulates HCSAs, including item eligibility.

Examples include:

  • Ambulance services;
  • Specific cancer treatments;
  • Dental services;
  • Registered Massage Therapy (RMT);
  • and more!
Woman getting a massage

Personal or Wellness Spending Account

A Wellness Spending Account (WSA), sometimes known as a Personal Spending Account (PSA), is a taxable benefit that provides additional health and wellbeing options beyond traditional benefits coverage. Employers decide what a WSA will and will not cover: the options for coverage are almost limitless!

Examples include:

  • Gym, fitness centre, and annual memberships
  • Child and eldercare
  • Education fees, tuition, and books
  • Smoking Cessation Programs
  • and more!
Man playing tennis

BENEFITS BY DESIGN’S
STANDALONE®

Launched in 2016, Standalone was born out of a desire to help working Canadians gain greater access to the benefits they want and in response to increased demand for choice and flexibility in benefits plans.

Standalone® Spending Accounts

To provide access to as many working Canadians as possible, Standalone is open to any incorporated company, with no restrictions on the numbers of employees, hours worked, or a minimum premium requirement.

At its core are two products — a Health Care Spending Account (HCSA) and a Wellness Spending Account (WSA). With both products, employers determine a set amount to offer to employees for eligible expenses, providing some cost-containment for the benefits plan, while still providing flexibility to employees.

Standalone® Advantages

  • Secure digital online platform
  • Claims made on-the-go
  • No cheques or prefunding required
  • Completely paperless system
  • Supported by BBD’s Customer Service team
  • Two- to four-day turnaround for claims reimbursement
  • Combine with AwayCare travel insurance to ensure your employees are covered at home and abroad
Standalone, BBD's online spending account adjudication portal

A benefits plan designed for you!

Find your plan

Back to Top