Hdhp/hsa

[sweeps]

So I'm really on this high-deductible health plan + health saving account bandwagon now. I've signed up for it through my employer, and I've already been thinking of a lot of ways to cut my health expenses. It's not a silver bullet, but I think this goes a long way to fixing the health care crisis.

A simple example -- prescriptions. Before when we paid the same co-pay regardless of where we went, we didn't care less if we were going to a high-priced pharmacy compared to a cheaper alternative. (Of course we were sticking it to the insurance company in the meantime.) Now we're researching the options and we're going with an approved mail-order pharmacy which will cut the cost of one prescription we need by 25%.

I think this is the future. HDHPs/HSAs will be the norm and traditional plans will be the exception.

HSAs are very cool by the way. Tax-free going in, tax-free earnings, tax-free coming out (if used for health care). The triple threat.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by sweeps

So I'm really on this high-deductible health plan + health saving account bandwagon now. I've signed up for it through my employer, and I've already been thinking of a lot of ways to cut my health expenses. It's not a silver bullet, but I think this goes a long way to fixing the health care crisis.

A simple example -- prescriptions. Before when we paid the same co-pay regardless of where we went, we didn't care less if we were going to a high-priced pharmacy compared to a cheaper alternative. (Of course we were sticking it to the insurance company in the meantime.) Now we're researching the options and we're going with an approved mail-order pharmacy which will cut the cost of one prescription we need by 25%.

I think this is the future. HDHPs/HSAs will be the norm and traditional plans will be the exception.

HSAs are very cool by the way. Tax-free going in, tax-free earnings, tax-free coming out (if used for health care). The triple threat.

I had an HSA before we got on my wife's plan at work and loved it.

Where do you get your online prescriptions at?

[Broken Arrow]

Yeah, I really love the HDHP/HSA arrangement. I haven't actually jumped on yet... but my credit union offers a nice HSA (at 5% interest) that I can take with me even if my insurance provider or even job changes, which is an especially nice touch.

[poundwise]

We've had an HDHP/HSA for the past two years and have no complaints. I like the control and the savings. In fact, without this arrangement, we would have struggled to have obtained health insurance at all.

I particularly recommend it for self-employed persons or those who otherwise are responsible for the purchase of their own insurance apart from an employer.