NPR: health savings accounts https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=154006556 health savings accounts en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 27 May 2025 18:59:17 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: health savings accounts https://www.npr.org/tags/154006556/health-savings-accounts High-Deductible Health Policies Linked To Delayed Diagnosis And Treatment Her employer offered only a high-deductible health plan; that meant she'd have to pay up to $6,000 out of pocket each year. Advocates for patients say this sort of underinsurance is snatching lives. Thu, 18 Apr 2019 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/18/713887452/high-deductible-health-policies-linked-to-delayed-diagnosis-and-treatment https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/18/713887452/high-deductible-health-policies-linked-to-delayed-diagnosis-and-treatment

Her employer offered only a high-deductible health plan; that meant she'd have to pay up to $6,000 out of pocket each year. Advocates for patients say this sort of underinsurance is snatching lives.

(Image credit: Lester Lefkowitz)

]]> Erika Stallings Health Savings Account Change In 2018 Could Trip Up Some Consumers The new calculation reduces by $50 the amount a family can put into these HSA accounts this year. Anyone who has already funded the account at a higher level will need to adjust, or risk IRS scrutiny. Tue, 03 Apr 2018 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/04/03/598819347/health-savings-account-change-in-2018-could-trip-up-some-consumers https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/04/03/598819347/health-savings-account-change-in-2018-could-trip-up-some-consumers

The new calculation reduces by $50 the amount a family can put into these HSA accounts this year. Anyone who has already funded the account at a higher level will need to adjust, or risk IRS scrutiny.

(Image credit: Fanatic Studio)

]]> Michelle Andrews Maryland's No-Cost Vasectomy Law May Leave Some Patients Behind State officials seeking to cover birth control methods for both men and women are trying to make sure the new law doesn't conflict with federal rules for health savings accounts. Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:18 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/14/585443421/marylands-no-cost-vasectomy-law-may-leave-some-patients-behind https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/14/585443421/marylands-no-cost-vasectomy-law-may-leave-some-patients-behind

State officials seeking to cover birth control methods for both men and women are trying to make sure the new law doesn't conflict with federal rules for health savings accounts.

(Image credit: Wendy Ashton)

]]> Michelle Andrews The Perplexing Psychology Of Saving For Health Care Even many people eligible for a health savings account who have extra cash to contribute to one don't do it. Therapists say that's partly because nobody wants to admit they will get old or sick. Wed, 15 Feb 2017 05:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/15/515038556/the-perplexing-psychology-of-saving-for-health-care https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/15/515038556/the-perplexing-psychology-of-saving-for-health-care

Even many people eligible for a health savings account who have extra cash to contribute to one don't do it. Therapists say that's partly because nobody wants to admit they will get old or sick.

(Image credit: Oivind Hovland)

]]> April Fulton Health Savings Accounts Are Back In The Policy Spotlight Republicans hope to expand the use of health savings accounts to encourage consumers to be more judicious in using their coverage. How do the accounts work? Thu, 02 Feb 2017 13:02:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/02/513060189/health-savings-accounts-are-back-in-the-policy-spotlight https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/02/02/513060189/health-savings-accounts-are-back-in-the-policy-spotlight

Republicans hope to expand the use of health savings accounts to encourage consumers to be more judicious in using their coverage. How do the accounts work?

(Image credit: Katie Edwards)

]]> Julie Appleby Tax Rule Limits Care For Chronic Ills Under High-Deductible Health Plans The IRS limits health plans linked to health savings accounts from covering most care until the deductible is paid off. Proposed legislation would expand what's allowed before that happens. Tue, 20 Sep 2016 10:49:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/20/494611994/tax-catch-limits-care-for-chronic-ills-under-high-deductible-health-plans https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/09/20/494611994/tax-catch-limits-care-for-chronic-ills-under-high-deductible-health-plans

The IRS limits health plans linked to health savings accounts from covering most care until the deductible is paid off. Proposed legislation would expand what's allowed before that happens.

(Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

]]> Michelle Andrews Unhappy With Your Company's Health Savings Account? Move It Even if an employer contributes to an HSA, the money belongs to the worker, who can move it to find better services or lower fees. Wed, 07 Oct 2015 09:35:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/07/446327244/unhappy-with-your-companys-health-savings-account-move-it https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/10/07/446327244/unhappy-with-your-companys-health-savings-account-move-it Even if an employer contributes to an HSA, the money belongs to the worker, who can move it to find better services or lower fees.

]]> Michelle Andrews Most Health Savings Account Owners Stick With Conservative Options People who have had health savings accounts open longer are more likely to invest their contributions. But only about 5 percent of all account holders do so. Thu, 03 Sep 2015 07:40:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/03/436338775/most-health-savings-account-owners-stick-with-conservative-options https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/03/436338775/most-health-savings-account-owners-stick-with-conservative-options People who have had health savings accounts open longer are more likely to invest their contributions. But only about 5 percent of all account holders do so.

]]> Michelle Andrews Health Law Calls For Automatic Enrollment Of Some Workers As early as 2015, firms with more than 200 employees may have to automatically enroll their workers in a company health plan. Though workers can opt out, some still find the provision patronizing. Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:56:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/08/05/338063641/health-law-calls-for-automatic-enrollment-for-some-workers https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/08/05/338063641/health-law-calls-for-automatic-enrollment-for-some-workers

As early as 2015, firms with more than 200 employees may have to automatically enroll their workers in a company health plan. Though workers can opt out, some still find the provision patronizing.

]]> Michelle Andrews States Experiment With Health Savings Accounts For Medicaid People who contribute up to $25 a month would be exempt from cost-sharing requirements. But some consumer advocates say the health savings accounts add a needless layer of complexity to Medicaid. Tue, 22 Jul 2014 09:43:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/07/22/333745570/states-experiment-with-health-savings-accounts-for-medicaid https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/07/22/333745570/states-experiment-with-health-savings-accounts-for-medicaid

People who contribute up to $25 a month would be exempt from cost-sharing requirements. But some consumer advocates say the health savings accounts add a needless layer of complexity to Medicaid.

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