ObamaCare vs. Health Savings Accounts

(Updated 2013 post-election)
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, ObamaCare) has been ruled constitutional. And Obama has been re-elected so there is no chance of repeal. What does all this mean for Health Savings Accounts?

HSA qualified High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) are the fastest growing segment in health insurance today. Over 15 million people have over $17 billion saved in their HSAs. Since unspent HSA funds roll over from year to year, HSA owners have a vested interest in not spending their own healthcare dollars. The more common co-pay plans insulate people from costs which often results in over-utilization. HSAs change this behavior. This is why they are commonly referred as ‘Consumer Driven Healthcare’ plans.

There are some portions of the law that directly affect HSAs. There are several other rules that we have to speculate how they will be implemented. Let’s begin with the direct HSA rulings:

1. The penalty for ineligible withdrawals from an HSA has been increased from 10% to 20%
2. All over-the-counter medications now require a written prescription

That’s it. As long as you keep proper records verifying your HSA withdrawals were for eligible medical expenses (see publication 502) and obtain a written prescription for your allergy medication, pain relievers, etc. then you will not be subject to any penalty at all.

Now for the provisions that will impact HSAs indirectly:

1. INDIVIDUAL MANDATE (2014)
Since ObamaCare requires people to purchase health insurance, most people who are currently uninsured will look for the lowest cost option available. HSA qualified insurance policies are not allowed to have co-pays and have minimum deductibles of $1250 for self-only coverage and $2500 for families which makes them more affordable. This could dramatically increase how many HSA qualified plans are purchased.

2. STATE EXCHANGES (2014)
Exchanges are online portals where people can enroll in health insurance plans and potentially receive government subsidies based on income (up to 400% poverty level). Since HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius continues to interpret how these exchanges are to be implemented, this one is far from finalized. Companies will be allowed to offer up to 4 plans on the exchanges (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) each with mandated “Essential Health Benefits”. All exchange qualified small group plans have a maximum deductible of $2,000 for self-only coverage and $4,000 for families. This type of a restriction will increase the cost of HSA qualified health insurance plans over the larger deductibles available today (up to $6,050 for self-only coverage and up to $12,100 for families). But they should still offer a substantial premium savings over co-pay plans.

3. MEDICAL LOSS RATIO (2011)
ObamaCare requires Health insurance companies to pay at least 80% of all collected individual / small group premiums and at least 85% of all large group premiums out in benefits and claims. HSA qualified insurance plans typically cost less while still having similar fixed costs (insurance company marketing, underwriting, and claims processing) which makes MLR a difficult provision for them to comply with. This could limit the number of insurance companies that offer HSA qualified plans on the exchanges. However the elimination of underwriting costs (all plans will be guaranteed issue) and the reduction in marketing costs for the insurance companies once most insurance agents are replaced by exchanges should make all plans MLR friendly by 2014.

Unless Kathleen Sebelius makes an unexpected ruling, HSAs appear to not only survive ObamaCare, but potentially thrive.

So… Health Savings Accounts appear to have a bright future with or without ObamaCare.

Original pre-election version as published in Ingram’s Magazine September 2012

By the HSA GUY, Scott Borden
Host of “Insurance Talk with Scott & Mike” Saturday 7-8 AM on www.KCMOtalkradio.com
www.missionHSA.com
913-980-4694

4 Comments

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI