| HSA Basics What is a Health Savings
Account (“HSA”)?
A Health Savings Account is an alternative to traditional health
insurance; it is a savings product that offers a different way for
consumers to pay for their health care. HSAs enable you to pay for
current health expenses and save for future qualified medical and
retiree health expenses on a tax-free basis.
You must be covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to be
able to take advantage of HSAs. An HDHP generally costs less than what
traditional health care coverage costs, so the money that you save on
insurance can therefore be put into the Health Savings Account.
You own and you control the money in your HSA. Decisions on how to
spend the money are made by you without relying on a third party or a
health insurer. You will also decide what types of investments to make
with the money in the account in order to make it grow.
What Is a “High Deductible
Health Plan” (HDHP)?
You must have an HDHP if you want to open an HSA. Sometimes referred to
as a “catastrophic” health insurance plan, an HDHP is an inexpensive
health insurance plan that generally doesn’t pay for the first several
thousand dollars of health care expenses (i.e., your “deductible”) but
will generally cover you after that . Of course, your HSA is available
to help you pay for the expenses your plan does not cover.
For 2005, in order to qualify to open an HSA, your HDHP minimum
deductible must be at least $1,000 (self-only coverage) or $2,000
(family coverage). For 2006, the amounts increase to $1,050 and $2,100,
respectively. The annual out-of-pocket (including deductibles and
co-pays) for 2005 cannot exceed $5,100 (self-only coverage) or $10,200
(family coverage). For 2006, these amounts increase to $5,250 and
$10,500, respectively. HDHPs can have first dollar coverage (no
deductible) for preventive care and apply higher out-of-pocket limits
(and co pays & coinsurance) for non-network services.
How can I get a Health Savings
Account?
Consumers can sign up for HSAs with banks, credit unions, insurance
companies and other approved companies. Your employer may also set up a
plan for employees as well.
How much does an HSA cost?
An HSA is not something you purchase; it’s a savings account into which
you can deposit money on a tax-preferred basis. The only product you
purchase with an HSA is a High Deductible Health Plan, an inexpensive
plan that will cover you should your medical expenses exceed the funds
you have in your HSA. |
View HSA Presentation