wow, that plan you're on now seems awfully good, co-pays from the start, 100% surgical for a hundred bucks a month!

I can certainly see where the compensation at the new place would have to be AWFULLY good if an HSA was your only choice.

I switched from my company's health plan to the HSA we began offering this year as quick as I could. but I am most definitely not in your circumstances (single guy, pretty much have to be hit by a bus before I go to the doctor). I could have chosen between a $1000 or $3000 deductible. I took the 3, I have that in my e-fund and I get a healthy match from my employer for money I put into the account. it only costs me $15 a month, no co-pays, its all me until the deductible is met but there's about a $5000 max out of pocket expense per year (again, supported by the emergency fund). what's more, I get control, something I like, the money goes into the account tax free, grows tax free, and isn't taxed when I pull it out to pay for "qualified expenses". when the account reaches a certain level, I can begin investing it if I choose in mutual funds or whatever the plan administrator is offering at the time.

but with a family...I don't know, I'd have to have a pretty solid pile of cash stacked up somewhere before I'd feel comfortable with the risk exposure (that out of pocket goes up to around 10 grand for a family).