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The Most Affordable Healthcare 

Lively · July 27, 2017 · 3 min read

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It seems that healthcare decisions are most often made for us, by others. As the healthcare debate continues to rage in the Senate, we wanted to help you understand why the cheapest health plan, might be the best.

Affordable Healthcare

High Deductible Health Plan (HDHPs) aren’t new to the American healthcare experience. They are however, becoming more popular, and now account for 29% of all employer sponsored US health plans. They typically have the lowest monthly premiums of any healthcare plan (both from employers and state exchanges). Their growing popularity isn’t surprising, as employers look to limit HR costs while still providing healthcare coverage (and options).

PPOs Still Reign Supreme

Most employees still select more coverage friendly plans like PPOs. They have been and continue to be lauded as the crème de la crème of healthcare plans. The higher the coverage rates, the better. PPOs have long stop atop other healthcare plans, but is it time to replace them on top of the podium?

What About The Long Term

We wouldn’t want to argue against the short term benefits PPOs provide. They create clear limits for expected health costs for the year. What about the years to come? PPOs and other plans like them provide no long-term healthcare planning tools or opportunities. Even if you are fit as a fiddle today, you need to plan for the future.

Enter the HDHP & HSA

We see the greatest value of an HDHP as the opportunity to couple it with an HSA. Why? HSAs are the only tool to provide long term health savings. A PPO by itself might outmatch a HDHP in the short term, but adding an HSA creates carry over the value that you can take with you from year to year, job to job and well into retirement.

The average Individual pays $936 for healthcare premiums/year for a HDHP and $1,237 for a PPO plan, after his or her employer contributions. For the employee, HDHPs offer a 24% average savings on premiums (vs. PPOs). HDHPs have higher deductibles, so keep that in mind.The individual can take that 24% difference in savings and use it to fund their HSA and by doing so:

  1. Save tax-free dollars to pay for their deductibles and other health-related costs that year.

  2. Save any unused HSA funds and keep that as a safe guard against future expected and unexpected health related costs.

In that sense, coupling an HDHP with an HSA is the only way to create a long-term health savings.

Affordable Plans Move to the Top

The key insight here is that by selecting the lower coverage (and premium option) of an HDHP you have the only option to save for healthcare for years to come. While a PPO might create the highest coverage option for this year, it provides no long-term savings options. If you change jobs, lose your job or retire, you lose the value of your PPO. By selected an HDHP and adding an HSA, you can save the dollars you would be putting into your PPO (don’t forget they are tax-free) and create a health nest egg for years to come. With an HSA, you can let your healthcare money work for you.

If you need more help with HSA decisions, check out our blog. We will make you a healthcare benefits expert in no time, without any extra work or effort on your end.

Lively

Lively

Lively is the modern HSA experience built for—and by—those seeking stability in the ever-shifting healthcare landscape. By harnessing modern innovation and deep industry expertise, Lively is committed to bridging today’s savings with tomorrow’s unknowns. Unlike traditional institutions hindered by bureaucracy, Lively’s commitment extends beyond initial set up to providing dedicated, ongoing support and education for every step. So each HSA can reach its maximum potential with minimal headache.

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Benefits

2024 and 2025 HSA Maximum Contribution Limits

Lively · May 9, 2024 · 3 min read

On May 9, 2024 the Internal Revenue Service announced the HSA contribution limits for 2025. For 2025 HSA-eligible account holders are allowed to contribute: $4,300 for individual coverage and $8,500 for family coverage. If you are 55 years or older, you’re still eligible to contribute an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution.

comparing hsa versus fsa

Benefits

What is the Difference Between a Flexible Spending Account and a Health Savings Account?

Lauren Hargrave · February 9, 2024 · 12 min read

A Health Savings Account (HSA) and Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) provide up to 30% savings on out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. That’s good news. Except you can’t contribute to an HSA and Healthcare FSA at the same time. So what if your employer offers both benefits? How do you choose which account type is best for you? Let’s explore the advantages of each to help you decide which wins in HSA vs FSA.

Benefits of HSA employer matching

Health Savings Accounts

Ways Health Savings Account Matching Benefits Employers

Lauren Hargrave · October 13, 2023 · 7 min read

Employers need employees to adopt and engage with their benefits and one way to encourage employees to adopt and contribute to (i.e. engage with) an HSA, is for employers to match employees’ contributions.

Disclaimer: the content presented in this article are for informational purposes only, and is not, and must not be considered tax, investment, legal, accounting or financial planning advice, nor a recommendation as to a specific course of action. Investors should consult all available information, including fund prospectuses, and consult with appropriate tax, investment, accounting, legal, and accounting professionals, as appropriate, before making any investment or utilizing any financial planning strategy.

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