Article on HSA's

[maddythebeagle]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...ive/2004/11/21/BUGQT9TPGS1.DTL&type=printable

I was looking up info. on these. What are people's experience on fees and investment options.

 

[wildcat]

I think as the article indicates the problem is that they are not very popular. I would like to see the fees come down and that will likely only happen if HSAs become more popular.

 

[retire@40]

I think as the article indicates the problem is that they are not very popular.  I would like to see the fees come down and that will likely only happen if HSAs become more popular.

They could be real popular if there were no restrictions on qualifying. IOW, anyone should be able to put money in an HSA no matter what insurance they have. There are lots of people that have low deductible plans that would contribute if this were the case.

 

[maddythebeagle]

Is that a huge problem, to find a high deduct. plan that is eligible?

 

[retire@40]

Is that a huge problem, to find a high deduct. plan that is eligible?

No, finding one is easy. But keeping your current low deductible plan and being able to put funds into an HSA would be even easier.

 

[MooreBonds]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...ive/2004/11/21/BUGQT9TPGS1.DTL&type=printable

I was looking up info. on these. What are people's experience on fees and investment options.

I'm pleased with my HSA account that I have with HSABank.com

Even though they charge a monthly fee for a brokerage account AND a low-balance charge if your bank savings account falls below $3,000 cash (although they recently switched clearing agents/brokers, so harrisdirect may not charge as much), I am still able to clear about 6 1/2% to 7% off of my investments after all of the fees...and that's just with two years' worth of contributions. Can't wait for 3 years from now, when I'll have considerably more chugging away at the yield

HSABank seemed to have the lowest charges for both starting out and long-term, and allows you to open up a brokerage account and invest in literally anything/everything. I haven't done a survey in a while among the massive (and constantly growing) list at hsainsider.com, but check them out and see which providers look like the best. Remember to include ALL fees in your calculations, which would really throw a wrench in the first few years when your returns might total a whopping $250-$500.

--Peter