7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans

Monday, October 11, 2010

7 Things You Should Know About Health Savings Account Plans

A plan for health savings account offers lower premiums and lower taxes for many people. would before switching to a HSA plan, however, do well to consult an experienced advantages offered with high deductible insurance policies that qualify for HSAs to search. In some cases, reduce costs and are unable or questioned in order to achieve these savings.


Health Savings Account (HSA) are very popular. Since its introduction in 2004, about 2.5 million Americans were enrolled in these plans called consumer driven healthcare. But, alas, HSA plans are not for everyone.
Here are some tips on how to determine whether an HSA will benefit you and your family.

1. An HSA plan can reduce health care costs an average of 40% for many people.
But some people in net savings. Most likely to achieve significant cost savings to pay all their health insurance premiums, such as self that are relatively healthy with few medical expenses.

2. Health Savings Plan restoration of the freedom of choice.
An HSA plan offers consumers look back control of their own health. It also means that each individual should take more responsibility for their own health care decisions. This approach to self-sufficiency is not always popular or appropriate for everyone, especially those who are comfortable with HMO-like plans of the supplement. "

3. reduce Health Savings Accounts to taxes on income.
Every dollar contributed to your HSA is an account of its taxable income and deducted contributions to a traditional IRA - whether to go or just save them. accumulate interest and investment in an HSA tax-deferred, like a traditional IRA. Unlike an IRA, are tax-free withdrawals if used for eligible medical expenses. In many cases, new account holders can fund their HSA almost exclusively with the money in premiums from a previous scheme saved more expensive. To hide all or most of these savings in an HSA, the account holder immediately savings in the form of additional tax cuts.

4. You must have health insurance to highly qualified
You can use a savings account for health. One of the biggest misconceptions about HSA plans is that every insurance policy is with high deductibles for the insured to establish an HSA eligible. IRS rules are very specific. Not all measures with the so-called "high deductible" is enough. It is important to ensure that you are covered by a qualified policy. Your best bet is to work with a licensed health insurance broker with experience in marketing HSA qualified plans qualified work.

5. You have to qualify to qualify for insured medical insurance for HSA.
Because most people do not have a policy of insurance deductibles highly qualified, you must plan your insurance, is eligible for HSAs. If the cover in a small group reform laws (usually groups of 2-49 employees), the new high-deductible policy will be signed separately by an insurance company. This means that some "old" conditions are not fully covered. On the other hand, some companies are choosing to certain pre-existing "conditions change slightly higher premiums. Unfortunately, some health problems are simply an individual insured (eg, diabetes, Crohn's disease, a cardiac crisis, etc.) make the technical requirements vary depending on state that another reason is to rely on a broker health plan experience.
You should not switch to an HSA plan if the current management of medical expenses more important than the rescue of the insurance premiums for medical progress. Do not change health plans: diagnosed in the midst of an ongoing medical treatment after a major health problem, or if a family member is pregnant.
In general, it is relatively easy to qualify, will be issued as medical examinations, etc. Most insurance companies offer HSA coverage based on their responses, an action may be accompanied by monitoring a telephone interview. In some cases, medical records are obtained, and the company reserves the right to request a review of support staff.

6. Although HSA insurance premiums are low, are not always as low as you can imagine.
This happens for one main reason. In short, the political context of insurance is that health insurance. Despite a "high" deductible, according to law, the insurance company or to compensate for the risks that your deductible, the store makes to take bonuses. Many companies offer policies with a "franchise" that all family members contribute a. Through these plans, it is not unusual for a family premium of 5,000 deductible with 100% coverage after the deductible has been comparable to 2500 "per person" deductible plan with 80/20 coverage after the deductible.
lower premiums for a very minor part of net cost with a plan HSA obtained. The net cost of an HSA plan is after taking the benefits of tax cuts, made possible by tax-deductible donation to receive the HSA. Would then collect the lowest possible premiums is your main concern, you might consider a policy of high deductible, no HSA, especially if you do not see the advantage of contributing to a savings account tax deductible.

7. An HSA offers the best chance of the line on rate increases for health insurance hold.
Do not get me wrong, that the rate hikes by the HSA insurance. As a qualified HSA health insurance policy in the heart, there is no logical reason to believe that a policy of increased fees from the HSA to that paid by insurance to be protected and wage claims remain in business. But what we can hope that the actual amount of dollars in rate hikes in the future will be significantly lower than traditional plans, health insurance (PPO and HMO plans regularly). This is because the insurer increased based on percentages and the same percentage of the premium on the results in an increase of the weaker dollar. Not a perfect solution, but it is the most cost-effective solution for many qualified people.

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