Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Health Savings Account: Controversial?

Health Savings Account are controversial if you don't have one, know how to properly apply the benefits or are sickly or have a preexisting condition that makes a HSA a non-decision for you.

The consumer-directed healthcare (CDH) movement is here to stay.

The largest demographic today has moved toward a healthy, stay healthy or get healthier lifestyle.

Now that's controversial!

Consumers have always wanted an individual choice when it comes to making their own health care decisions. They want a provider they are comfortable with or have used for years, but don't want to change providers because of a career move, or a health insurance change at work.

Americans are attracted to controversial subjects and this is a great one!

Many different views about Health Savings Accounts will keep this subject controversial for a long time.

Don't be the last to find out!

Don't be "That Guy" who passed on a health care jewel and a financial pot-of-gold at the end the rainbow.

Learn more about the basics: your options, your participation levels, what your company offers now (Your current health insurance at work.), your entrepreneurial options, the three tax advantages.

Owner of companies: 1-19 employees, 20 employees and above.

Your options are vast, both for you and your employees.

The past few years of legislation has opened advantages once only available to large corporations.

Find out what the controversy is about.

Learn were you, your company or were you and your family are now.

Health Savings Accounts are controversial and that is good.

Learn more...read this short white paper. www.healthsavingsaccountsinc.com/articles/consumerfocusedhealthplans.htm

Friday, June 22, 2007

Health Savings Accounts: Employer Information

Health Savings Accounts are growing in popularity, providing traditional coverage through unconventional means. Health Savings Accounts and High Deductible Insurance Polices focus on the consumer and the need for flexibility. With increased accessibility to coupled insurance plans many employers are offering enrollment options in Health Savings Accounts to their employees. Health Savings Accounts are transforming the American health care system. Health Savings Accounts are allowing Individual policyholders and employers the opportunity to move away from traditional models of insurance coverage that dominate health care transactions. Health Savings Accounts enable transactions between patient and physician in which the patient has control over how the dollars are spent. By offering Health Savings Accounts to your employees you are offering a policy that is rich in opportunity.
In short Health Savings Accounts are portable accounts that allow individuals to deposit money into their Health Savings Account on a tax free basis. The funds within the Health Savings Account can be withdrawn tax free to pay for qualified medical expenses including preventive care, health insurance deductibles, qualified premiums, prescription drugs, over the counter medications as well as long term care services. The High Deductible Health Insurance plans provide coverage for potential catastrophic medical expenses. It is the purpose of Health Savings Accounts to provide individuals with information rich resources that will enable them to make informed decisions regarding their health care, health treatment and health management options.
With more and more individuals seeking control over health care decisions, employers looking to contribute to Health Savings Accounts should understand how it would work on their end. When making a deposit into an employee Health Savings Account that amount is excluded from the employee’s income. Should the employer not provide health insurance but those employed hold Health Savings Accounts, the employer can make pretax contributions to the employees’ Health Savings Accounts. The total annual employer-employee contributions made to the Health Savings Account may amount to as much as one-hundred percent of the HSA health plan's annual deductible amount and can be used to cover any and all qualified medical expenses. Contributions made to an individual’s Health Savings Account are tax deductible to the employer. If an employer is making contributions into Health Savings Accounts it must be made in equal part to all employees.
Health Savings Account provide comprehensive coverage for those enrolled and also offer great incentives to the employer who offers this up and coming health insurance option. www.healthsavingsaccountsinc.com/articles/employerinformation.htm

Monday, June 18, 2007

Health Savings Accounts: Rollovers From FSAs into HSAs

“Health Savings Accounts are improving the way Americans obtain the care they need. This bill makes HSAs more flexible and makes it easier for participants to put money aside for their personal health care,” said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy. Health Savings Accounts have been growing in popularity over the last few years due in part to the focus being placed on accessibility and affordability. Health Savings Accounts are indeed improving the way Americans obtain the care they need. Health Savings Accounts are making receiving healthcare an actuality rather than a distant hope.
Benefits afforded to those participating in Health Savings Account programs far outweigh those of traditional insurance plans. Traditional insurance plans often times provide its employees with Flexible Spending Accounts, FSAs or a Health Reimbursement Account, HRA. While Health Savings Accounts are drastically different from traditional policies, you are able to transfer funds from a FSA or an HRA. If you are currently participating in an FSA or a HRA and have decided to enroll in a Health Savings Account, your employer can transfer funds from your FSA or HRA into your Health Savings Account up to the yearly maximum*. Health Savings Accounts were developed to meet the needs of the consumer. By allowing funds previously accrued to be transferred into your Health Savings Account the issue of access and affordability of healthcare is being addressed.
Health Savings Accounts were also established on a tax-free basis. Meaning, funds deposited into a Health Savings Account are tax-free if spend on qualified medical expenses. When transferring funds from an FSA or an HRA the amount deposited will fall under the same guidelines as funds deposited in the future.
Health Savings Accounts provide it’s policyholders with a comprehensive policy, but also provides the individual with the means to utilize contributions from other eligible accounts.
* The maximum contribution is the balance in the FSA or HRA as of September 21, 2006, or if less, the balance as of the date of the transfer. The provision is limited to one distribution with respect to each health FSA or HRA of the individual. If an individual does not remain an eligible individual for the 12 months following the month of the contribution, the transferred amount is included in income and subject to a 10 percent additional tax.

Visit www.healthsavingsaccountsinc.com for additional free articles on Health Savings Accounts and associated subjects.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Health Savings Accounts: Complete Control Over Health Care Spending

Health Savings Accounts is my favorite subject and passion to write about and research about for the last five years. I thought I would share a popular article with you again.

http://www.healthsavingsaccountsinc.com/articles/completecontroloverhealthcarespending.htm
You can also access the article by using Ctrl & left click below. That will open a new window with the article in EzineArticles.com.

As Featured On Ezine Articles

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Health Insurance: What Happens When You Loose Yours

Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and the associated High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), required for the tax savings and premiums savings, is what I usually talk and write about. Today I want to bring up some interesting figures and facts you may not have thought about or known about.

In February 2005 Harvard University released the results of its study, "Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy." The study interviewed 1,771 Americans in bankruptcy courts and determined that about half were "medically bankrupt"...driven to bankruptcy by medical bills not covered by health insurance. Also, included in the study and equally surprising were these three additional statistics.

Three-fourths of the "medically bankrupt" had health insurance at the beginning of their illness.

The majority of the "medically bankrupt" owned their own homes and had attended college.

Many people filing "medical bankruptcy" were middle-class workers with health insurance who were unable to meet their co-payments, deductibles, and exclusions in the employer-sponsored health insurance plan.

Since the 1980's, each year 1-2 million American families filed bankruptcy. The specific reasons were unknown. Most people assumed credit card spending, divorce and loss of employment to be among the major reasons. But, now with our new understanding that half are from medical illness, we must look closer at new and noteworthy options which don't leave our financial futures at risk.

More about this in the next few days.

I will give you some of the statistics showing where most medical accidents happen and what are the chance that you or your loved ones will be involved in one.

STAY TUNED!

Friday, June 08, 2007

Health Savings Accounts: Major Reform? Will it Help You and Your Loved Ones?

The State of the Union address from President Bush brought the concept of Health Savings Accounts out into the open for all to see. This huge reform is long overdue and a great solution to health insurance plans for many Americans.

Is the newest and most popular Health Savings Account a real solution for the ever increasing cost of health care? Want to know more of the details?

Read this fine article on some specific benefits and details.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Health Savings Accounts: How do I cover myself or family, while getting a HSA open and working?

Health Savings Accounts have become so popular as of late because of the savings in monthly premium payments as well the freedom to take that associated insurance with you when changing jobs.

Note: (1 million plus people last year had a bankruptcy caused by a medical expenses not covered by a group plans, changing of a job or for not have any insurance at all.)

This is a key work we speak of often called Consumer Portability Options. It is not a industry key word and is hard to often get a correct answer when it pertains to health care choices, plans and option available to employees and employers. To put it in short, it is the proper usage of best in class and savings combined with equal or better coverage in your health care plans (Health Insurance) combined with ownership (Take it with you when you move or change jobs.).

I am writing an white paper to detail these topic and benefits for the layman to understand and implement.

I expound on strategies to cover yourself and family while making your fine choice to implement a Health Savings Account for you and your family.

Stay tuned...It will be out soon and I will put a link on my blog to the white paper.