HDHP / HSA / FSA

When it comes to health insurance plans, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) can get a bad rap. The “high deductible” part of the name is enough to deter those worried about rising medical costs. Then there’s the widely held belief that high-deductible health plans are only financially beneficial for young, healthy individuals.

Employer-sponsored health insurance remains the main source of health insurance in the United States, covering about 153 million working Americans and their families. In fact, it’s often the reason for taking one job over another: 46% of Americans surveyed said they chose their current jobs because of the health insurance offered.

Many employers offer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as a component of their health plans. Some will even offer to contribute, or match employee contributions, as an extra incentive to take advantage of this benefit. Theoretically, contributing to an HSA should help employees cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, including their deductibles.

Adam Wheeler, M.D., is a co-founder of Big Tree Medical Home, a direct primary care clinic, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Wheeler enjoys hacking the health system and may be the only doctor in the U.S. who secretly dreams of working in finance.