Save on Your Insurance With a Health Savings Account Plan

As the cost of health insurance and medical care continue to rise, more and more people are looking for cheaper alternatives such as Health Savings Account plans (HSAs), to help pay the bills. What are they and where can you find a cheapt HSA? Read on ...

What is a Health Savings Account plan?

A Health Savings Account allows you to set aside money to pay for current and future health expenses. The money you put into your HSA is tax-free, although you have to pay a penalty if you withdraw it for non-medical expenses. You can think of an HSA as a "medical IRA." When you have a medical expense, you just pay for it with a check or debit card that automatically pulls money from the plan. And money that you are not using can be earning interest for future use.

How do I enroll in an HSA?

In order to enroll in an HSA, you must first set up a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). An HDHP is an inexpensive "catastrophic" health insurance plan. This type of plan costs less than a traditional insurance plan, freeing up funds to put into the tax-deductible HSA.

An HDHP typically pays nothing for the first several thousand dollars of health expenses you have each year. You pay those expenses out of your Health Savings Account. Once you meet the deductible, the HDHP begins to pay.

by Brian Stevens