The cost of healthcare continues to steadily rise year over year. In an environment of escalating premiums, many employers are in search of alternatives to the status quo. Whether the solution is a lower cost plan or increased premium share with employees, decision makers are doing the best they can to retain employees and remain profitable.

Consumer directed health plans (CDHPs), paired with a health savings account (HSA) are trending higher among many employers with growth of 11.2% from 2017 to 2018. These plans with lower premium costs are coupled with a new philosophy which brings comparison shopping and savvy consumerism into the healthcare space. If healthcare consumers have “more skin in the game,” i.e. paying more of their out-of-pocket costs, they will shop around for the best deal on doctor visits, prescription medicines and more. It sounds good in theory, but does it really work? Some actuaries say yes.

Consumer-directed healthcare plans (CDHP) accompanied with health savings accounts (HSAs) continue to increase in adoption, 20% year over year growth from 2017. Electing the plan is just the beginning. Many employers find it challenging to educate employees on the benefits of having an HSA. Here are a few tips to help employees use their HSA to the fullest.

The IRS announced last year that health savings account (HSA) contribution limits have increased for 2019, giving you and your employees the chance to save more than ever.

As a response to rising inflation, the contribution limits into savings vehicles like IRAs, 401(k)s, and HSAs can rise from year to year. And given the fantastic triple tax advantages¹ that an HSA offers, 2019 is the year to encourage your employees to contribute the full amount to their HSAs.

It’s official. The IRS has just announced that for 2019, individuals can contribute $2,700 to their FSA. That is an increase from the 2018 limit of $2,650. The FSA increase also applies to limited-purpose FSAs (LPFSA) that is limited to vision and dental services, which can be used in cooperation with a health savings account (HSA).

An FSA empowers employees to pay for qualified medical expenses with pre-tax funds. FSAs are popular accounts because of the tax benefits they provide to employees and to their employers.

Once upon a noon day napping, with my co-workers making a constant yapping,

Over oft-discussed matters of weather and how their team played the night before —

While I drifted, not quite sleeping, suddenly there came a knocking,

And I heard a quiet opening, an opening of my office door.

“Tis some co-worker,” I mumbled, “interrupting my lunchtime rest—

Only this and nothing more.”