This post may be a tad bit before end of year, but now that open enrollment is finally here after being delayed, I wanted to give anyone who is considering multiple health insurance plans something to chew before it is too late to make changes.
Two years ago, I made the switch from a cushy PPO health insurance plan to a high deductible health plan (HDHP) which was paired with an HSA during my employer’s open enrollment.
The cost savings of the HDHP that I calculated at the end of year one determined the move to be a resounding success.
After factoring in premiums, prescriptions, service costs, and +$2,000 in HSA employer contributions – I ended up saving $1,038 out of pocket. That number is boosted to $2,132 if you factor in the leftover HSA contributions of $1,094 (which roll over to subsequent years and can be put towards future medical expenses).
Since I can take that money with me, and $1,094 in HSA savings (income) > $936 in premiums paid (expenses), I actually made money on health insurance last year!
Meanwhile, I want to bank as much tax-free savings as I can for future likely health expenses, so I topped off my employer’s contribution to reach the maximum HSA contribution
What did year #2 bring in terms of HDHP vs. PPO costs? Could I be so lucky as to actually make money on health insurance two years in a row (and at what point is it no longer luck and just smart strategy)? Lets take a look at the numbers…
Premium Costs:
My HDHP premium costs stayed the same at $936 for the year for my wife and I. Meanwhile, the premiums from the PPO I was formerly enrolled in also stayed the same as well:
- PPO: $1,518
- HDHP: $936
These are the pre-tax deductions from payroll (actual out of pocket is technically less if you factor in tax savings – but going for simplicity here).
HSA Contributions:
You can only make an HSA contribution if you are enrolled in a HDHP plan. This was one of the big reasons why I decided to switch.
You own your HSA (your employer does not own that account). So when you leave an employer, you can take that HSA with you and use it to pay for medical expenses, regardless of whatever new plan you switch to. For this reason, HSA’s are amazing for anyone who desires to be self-employed or retire early.
Once again, due to my employer’s generous $1,600 contribution, plus a HDHP bonus incentive of $200 for each of us for going in for an annual preventative visit, in addition to my own contributions of $4,450, we notched a total HSA contribution of $6,450 for the year.
I’ll leave my personal contribution out of the highlighted costs/savings, since it was optional and not from my employer.
- PPO: $0
- HDHP: +$2,000
Remember, if you are employed, you cannot use your HSA to pay your health plan premiums, but you can use it on just about any other medical expense.
Prescription Costs:
With my previous PPO, co-pays were just $10, regardless of generic or brand. In both 2011 and 2012, my wife and I each had one prescription. Most PPO’s cover a higher percentage of prescription costs than HDHP’s.
There was a big change with the Affordable Care Act that saved us some money. Certain free women’s preventative coverages kicked in under the ACA, including free birth control. This saved us $254 over the course of the year.
I previously had signed up for a prescription delivery service for the one prescription that I had. However, 4 months in to the year, I no longer needed it and I saved additional funds here.
- PPO: $30 (out of pocket)
- HDHP: $54.07 – $54.07 (HSA contribution outlay) = $0 (out of pocket)
Costs for Services/Procedures/Products:
We did not have many services or procedures, outside of an annual physical (covered 100% under both plans) and flu shots (covered 100%).
I had one urgent care visit and one tiny procedure for a total of $347.36 (both paid for by my HSA).
I bought eyeglasses online for a cost of $37.80 (paid for by my HSA). My wife visited an optician for a contact lens exam and order, for a cost of $216. Normally, this expense would have been out of pocket, but once again the HSA swoops in to the rescue.
- PPO: $274.20 (out of pocket)
- HDHP: $601.56 – $601.56 (HSA contribution outlay) = $0 (out of pocket)
Total Out of Pocket & Final Results
After factoring in the cost of the plan and HSA contributions, modeled (PPO) and actual (HDHP) total out of pocket costs for the year were:
- PPO: $1,822.20 out of pocket
- HDHP: $936 + $655.63 – ($655.63 HSA contribution outlays) = $936 out of pocket
I saved $886.20 out of pocket with the HDHP vs. the PPO. A bit less than last year because prescription co-pays on the PPO would have dropped, but still $886.20 in out of pocket savings.
Also, if you consider that I netted +$1,344.37 in HSA payments compared to $936 in outlays, the result is a +$408.37 (vs. +$158 last year). In other words, I made money on health insurance once again, and this time even more!
Final Thoughts:
Everyone’s personal circumstances (health, plans, prescriptions, family size) will vary, of course. This is merely one illustrative example and I had relatively good health, but bad luck can happen to anyone. You’d be best served to crunch the numbers for your personal or family’s situation and take in to account your own health needs.
HDHP Cost Savings Discussion:
- Have you made the switch from a PPO to an HDHP? Did you realize cost savings or a loss? How much?
- Have you stayed with a PPO vs. an HDHP? Why?
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You must have one heck of an employer. My rates (employee + family) are as follows. These are the bi-weekly rates for my options.
CDHP: $256.42 (employer will fund HRA with $2000..no $500 rollover)
HDHP: $224.18 (employer will fund $0)
PPO: $290.52 (copay varies)
We have been on the CDHP for 2 years now so I expect we’ll stay with it. Also will be maxing out our FSA since we’re expecting a new one in April.
You CDHP sounds an awful lot like an HDHP. How does it differ, by your estimates?
I’m a single man with a HDHP + Maxed out HSA. Just curious if when I eventually get married and add my wife to my plan or if you had a child if those funds that are already in the HSA will be allowed to be used for any future expenses they may have?
Yes. According to current rules you can use HSA funds to pay for future expenses of spouse and dependents regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in a HDHP.
big fan of the HSA myself. i’m a single 30 yr old male. I pay $33 / mo (43-10 for non-smoker) for the higher deductible option of the two hsa’s offered by my employer. I max out my contribution and receive $500/yr in matching plus $400 in incentives for making target metrics on my annual healthcare screening. I have no health conditions and have no health expenses except dental cleanings. i keep $2000 in the savings account and all the additional funds are automatically swept over into an investment account. my current combined holdings total $12,300 and i see no reason to discontinue my current course. taxfree savings and free money (match/incentive) are two of my favorite things. at some point even the healthiest among us will require medical care; if not for ourselves then for our spouses or covered dependents. and if you manage to make it to 65 without spending it, the caveat that it must be spent on a qualified medical expense is nixed. so you wouldn’t owe 10% penalty, just tax on hsa funds spent on golf/cruise/grandkids/ etc. so its basically a mini 401k that you are allowed to spend on healthcare along the way should the need arise.
My company offered an HDHP/HSA for the first time this year. Sadly the numbers just didn’t add up though- premiums were $350 less than the PPO and the company would have submitted $500 into the HSA on my behalf – an $850 annual benefit, assuming I wouldn’t need any medical services other than preventative care. In previous years this would have been enough for me to choose the HSA, but a couple months ago I got diagnosed with some health problems. I added up what I would have spent this year if I’d had an HDHP/HSA. Between 2 doctor’s office visits, a blood test, an EGD, and some prescribed antibiotics, the PPO came out as the better option. Additionally, my husband and I want to start having kids at some point, and the costs of prenatal and pediatric care would also likely make the PPO a better choice…
Yep – HDHP/HSA options will vary by employer. If I were in your shoes, my thinking would probably be pretty similar.
You must not have a separate, stand-alone vision plan, right? If, like me, you do and it’s not a HDHP vision plan (does such a thing exist?), then you’re not allowed to use HSA monies for exams, eyeglasses, contacts, etc. For that, my company (and probably others) offers a Limited FSA. Until they allow for the newly permitted $500 FSA rollover though, it isn’t yet worth it for me.
I do have a vision plan, it is separate from my HDHP. I have not heard that you are not allowed to use your HSA exams, glasses, contacts. I don’t see why it would be any different than a co-pay on a prescription or doctors visit.
Eyecare costs are listed under covered HSA expenses: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/index.html
What would you recommend I choose? I’m not very familiar with HSA and not sure I need to start putting money into one. I’m 30+ yo, no children, don’t drink, do not smoke any longer, don’t visit the doctor often unless it’s for the flu every two yrs or so , and have no pre-existing conditions whatsoever. I’m thinking of just skipping it this year, but I do like the idea of having it as somewhat of a 401K if ever needed. I may begin visiting the doctor yearly once I reach 40+, but that’s a few yrs away. I may just choose the $1500 Deductible PPO this year and think about HSA in the years to come. Any thoughts? Am I maybe gambling with the future in terms of health? Below is a link to our benefits.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ybu5zawguo3k3d4/Open%20Enrollment.PDF