Devenir HSA Newsletter: December, 2017

  • December 8, 2017

Each month Devenir highlights a selection of articles to keep you abreast of the latest trends and developments in the HSA marketplace.

A summary of the articles included in the December 2017 edition:

  • HSA Investing: 3 Reasons Investing in an HSA is Not the Same as a 401(k)
  • 5 Steps To Make the Most of Your HSA
  • Why So Many People Choose the Wrong Health Plans
  • FSA or HSA: How To Best Maximize Your Health Savings
  • How Technology Solutions Can Impact HSAs and Open Enrollment
  • Consumer Behaviors Among Individuals Enrolled in High-Deductible Health Plans in the United States


HSA Investing: 3 Reasons Investing in an HSA is Not the Same as a 401(k)

As part of our continuing effort to inform investors about HSAs, we posted a three-part blog series comparing HSAs to 401(k)s for use as a retirement savings vehicle. While the two accounts are often compared at a high level, we took an in-depth look at the benefits and limitations of each account highlighting three reasons investing in an HSA is more nuanced than it’s 401(k) counter-part.



5 Steps To Make the Most of Your HSA

HSA savings could be especially valuable in retirement. A recent report from Fidelity estimates a healthy, 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need $275,000 to cover their health-care costs in retirement.

Here are Stahl’s strategies to make the most of an HSA:

  1. Start by age 50
  2. Maximize contributions
  3. Invest
  4. Avoid dipping into savings
  5. Mind retirement decisions

Why So Many People Choose the Wrong Health Plans

The plan with the lowest deductible is not always the best choice for all families. The best choice one year may not be the best choice the next. This New York Times article by Richard Thaler offers considerations for making a complicated decision.

FSA or HSA: How To Best Maximize Your Health Savings

Flexible spending and health savings accounts enable you to put away pretax funds for medical expenses. Savers need to know the particular rules of, and differences between, these accounts to make the best use of their savings.

How Technology Solutions Can Impact HSAs and Open Enrollment

Offering education to employees about benefit selections with individually tailored solutions is key to a successful enrollment season. One way to ensure employees are receiving the most accurate and helpful information available is to utilize new technology and data segmentation that can help drive informed decision making.

Consumer Behaviors Among Individuals Enrolled in High-Deductible Health Plans in the United States

A recent study by the American Medical association found that most people enrolled in high deductible plans are not engaging in consumer behaviors: saving for future services, using information about prices and quality of services, talking with providers about cost, or negotiating prices. Those that are could be realizing greater benefits.