According to Fidelity Investments, a couple retiring this year can expect to spend $285,000 on medical expenses during their retirement. And while the rate of healthcare cost increases has slowed in recent years, Americans are living longer, meaning they will need to address the cost of healthcare for a longer period of time.
The good news is that as we have noted many times, HSAs are becoming more popular all the time and a great way to save for retirement on a tax-free basis. Fidelity reports that their portfolio of HSA owners has grown to more than 830,000 individuals who currently own $3 billion in assets. In addition, consultants say that employers contributed nearly $9 billion to employees’ HSAs in 2018 alone. If our economy remains strong, we can expect these trends to continue. More and more employers will be able to provide matching contributions and funds contributed to HSAs are never taxed.
Employees will be able to save some additional healthcare dollars in 2020 as the IRS will increase the limit on deductible contributions to an HSA by $50 for individuals and $100 for families. The limits will be $3,550 for individuals with self-only coverage and $7,100 for family coverage. The minimum deductible for a qualifying high deductible health plan will also increase, rising to $1,400 for single coverage and $2,800 for family coverage
While EBRI researchers have reported slower growth rates in recent years, more than 40% of HSA enrollees opened their accounts in just the past two years. Other recent projections, in fact, expect the value of HSA accounts to grow from $54 billion in 2018 to nearly $75 billion in 2020. Proposals floating around Washington could expand the list of HSA-eligible expenses as well as the age at which seniors must stop contributing to their HSA. Proposals like these would make HSAs even more valuable in the future.
Since 2007, adults ages 18 to 64 with employment-based coverage have increasingly chosen High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP), both with and without Health Savings Accounts
While it may not yet be widespread, some companies are looking for ways to use voice-activated assistants such as Siri and Emma to provide plan members with answers about annual contribution limits, account balances and other details regarding flexible spending accounts, HSAs, HRAs and more. Many hope that linking these intelligent assistants to a mobile app will make it easier than ever for members to get answers to questions when they need them.
We often hear of professional athletes succeeding under pressure by staying “in the moment” and remaining focused on the things that are within their control. This challenge can be applied to the uncomfortable position all of us find ourselves in today – somewhere between complying with existing laws and anticipating the unknowns coming from Washington.
Health savings accounts are hot, with nearly two-thirds of respondents to a Plan Sponsor Council of America survey saying they believe that even those without a high deductible health plan should qualify. A benefit often cited by employers and employees alike is that HSAs can be a valuable part of one’s retirement strategy, since healthcare expenses are viewed as one of the largest people face in retirement.
The State of Benefits report from BenefitFocus shows that workers under the age of 26 are investing 20% more of their salary in HSAs than other generations. This is certainly due to the fact that nearly half have elected to enroll in high deductible health plans in 2017. While PPO plans remain very popular, especially among older adults, employee contributions to HSAs and FSAs are rising. A growing interest in savings among young people is another factor contributing to the increased popularity of HSAs.
