On: Employees Start to Feel the Squeeze of High-Deductible Health Plans

[duxup]

Generally, but I think that's a bit of a "hey people without a lot of money who can't afford more... you should save money" there.

Not that they shouldn't do it, but a slight paradox there.

[_fq4v → duxup]

The point was that the premium was lower so you could save the difference and instead of that difference going to waste each year, it could compound over time.

[mrosett → _fq4v]

HSAs aren't use it or lose it. That's FSAs.

[_fq4v → mrosett]

I mean, if a HDHP plan costs 400 / mo and a regular plan costs 1000 / mo, you get to save the 600 and let that compound over many years (if you don't use it), rather than lose the 600 in insurance premiums.

[lotsofpulp → mrosett]

tathougies was referring to the difference in monthly health insurance premiums. I don't see what their comment has to do with Flexible Savings Accounts.

[mrosett → lotsofpulp]

I think I may have responded to the wrong comment here. Someone else was saying that HSAs are use-it-or-lose-it.

[_fq4v → lotsofpulp]

yup!

[SilasX → _fq4v]

From what I understand, even the HDHPs have such high premiums that the point is not being achieved, especially if you have to go through the marketplace rather than the employer.

[lotsofpulp → SilasX]

Due to rising healthcare costs, and employers reducing the portion of health insurance premiums that they want to pay for their employee (aka a paycut), that's going to be true regardless of HDHP or not HDHP.

[thekingofh → _fq4v]

HSA is spend it or lose it.

[wyldfire → thekingofh]

You're mistaken, but it's an easy mistake to make.

There's an alphabet soup of FSA/LPFSA/HSA/DCFSA options.

An HSA is truly your own savings account, owned by you (just like any other savings account), regardless of where contributions come from.

[goobynight → thekingofh]

Nonono.

That's an FSA. You can hold on to your HSA indefinitely and withdraw for medical reimbursement at any time (decades later).

[lliamander → thekingofh]

Actually, that would an FSA. You can hold onto HSAs.

[hawaiianbrah → thekingofh]

You’re thinking of FSAs