View Single Post
  #2  
Old 07-12-2007, 03:54 PM
mosdef mosdef is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3,414
Default Re: HSA\'s (Health Savings Accounts)

[ QUOTE ]
What is the deal with these? I've heard good things about them, but I'd like to hear if any of you use them, such as the money rolling over, and the ability to invest.

My boss is talking about going this route for us.

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]

The most significant thing you should be worried about is that the value of the "new" package to you is less than the "old" package. It is a given that the risk to you is higher now.

What I mean by value is as follows: You are presumably exchanging some sort of defined coverage plan (with premiums paid by your employer) for a monthly cash flow into your HSA from the employer. The advantages are:

- You get control of the investments of the money.
- You get more tailored coverage. Under a defined coverage plan, you only benefit to the extent that your needs match up with the coverage. Under a HSA, you can get any medical issue dealt with so long as you can afford it with the HSA. In other words, there's no exclusions (except those too expensive) and you don't pay premiums for something someone else in the coverage group needs.

The big issue for you (IMO) is that it is very hard to put a value on the coverage you've got right now. It may be that, taking into account your health and other factors, that the value of the current plan is, say, $5,000 per year but the new HSA provides you with $2,000 per year. Your employer with have access to specialists (actuaries, probably) that can determine the value of your current plan but you probably won't have access to such specialists. You'll need to critically examine communication from your employer because they will (rationally) emphasize the flexibility of the HSA but won't necessarily explain the actuarial value you are giving up.
Reply With Quote