Mar 25 2010
Health Savings Accounts offer tax deductions for medical expenses, and the opportunity to set up an additional retirement account. But regardless of any other positive benefit of HSAs, reduce premiums are the primary reason that thousands of American citizens have chosen Health Savings Accounts as the best way to protect their family’s health and assets. Here are some key suggestions on how to keep your health care insurance premiums low.
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<li>1. Pick an HSA-eligible plan for reduce rate increases.
Average group health care insurance premiums rose by 9.6 percent last year and rose over 10 percent for each of the previous six years. Individual plans went up even more. Yet it’s expected most HSA plans will experience much reduce rate increases. A very large study was recently published showing that rate increases over the past year for consumer-driven plans such as HSA plans was only 3.4 percent. Blue Cross of Minnesota has reported that its HSA customers spent 8 percent less than their traditional insurance clients. Humana has reported claims’ expenses of 4.9 percent for consumer-driven plans, versus a 19.2 percent increase in claims for other plans. In fact, average HSA premiums for individuals have actually dropped 19.5 percent over the last two years.
The reason these plans have reduce rate increases is that individuals who have HSA-qualifying high-deductible insurance plans are likely to pay closer attention to expenses , and take better care of their health. For instance, an HSA owner offered a statin drug to reduce her cholesterol may be more likely to request a generic version, or ask her medical provider if low costnutritional supplements such as niacin or fish oil may be a solution. These actions save the insurance carrier money and should result in reduce rate increases.</li>
<li>2. Raise your deductible as your HSA account grows.
When you fund your account you build up a financial “cushion” which allows you to raise your deductible as your account grows. Every time you raise your deductible, your premium should go down.
By the way, don’t forget that every time you fund your account you get an instant tax-deduction. When you offset the tax savings against your premiums, you will find your net price for an HSA plan can be very low.
The maximum allowable contribution goes up every year with the rise of the Consumer Price Index. Currently, the individual contribution limit’s $2,700, and the family limit’s $5,450. So each year you can deposit greater amounts into your HSA and continue to raise your deductible, if you choose.</li>
<li>3. Stay healthy, so you can switch plans.
All health care insurance plans have rate increases, and we’ve even seen premiums jump on some HSA plans. If a rate increase happens to you, you can switch to a different insurance carrier – but only if you pass their underwriting requirements. If chronic disease develops, you may be stuck with your current plan, and its accompanying rate increases, for eternity. Or at least it may seem that long…
If you pay attention to the pharmaceutical commercials, you learn lifestyle really has nothing to do with disease, and it’s natural and healthy to be on numerous medications for the rest of your life, which will then solve your medical problems.
If you pay attention to the science, you know the truth is quite different. It appears lifestyle is probably 95 percent of the picture, and we know the occurrence of degenerative disease can be dramatically reduced and even prevented.
Fortunately, most HSA owners are interested in health, wellness, and disease prevention. After all, they’re paying for their own medical provider visits if they do get sick. HSA owners are also “forward thinking” people, and like to plan for their future – both financial and physical. You’re able to improve your odds of excellent health with just a few key habits:
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<li>• Eat very high quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits. Shoot for 35 percent of your calories. This will reduce your risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and much more.</li>
<li>• Limit your intake of sugar and starchy carbohydrates like bread and pasta. The majority of medical problems in the U.S. are related to metabolic diseases that involve insulin resistance.</li>
<li>• Exercise and lift weights. Exercise guru Jack La Lanne turns 93 on September 26, and he says if you have muscles you never feel old.</li>
<li>4. Compare your plan to other available plans at least once a year, or whenever you get a rate increase.
Often-times individuals keep their plan much longer than they should, and end up paying too much. If your rates go up, you should compare a wide variety of plans to determineif you are in the right plan for your needs and budget.
By using these four strategies, the typical family can save thousands of dollars in health care insurance premiums and still protect themselves against unexpected major medical expenses.</li>
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