Does this SHSA sound like a viable option for health insurance?
Yes
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No
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jhize
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Mar 2007 Posts: 2 Location: Ohio
Specialized Health Savings Account Posted: 03-29-07 10:52am
Hi,
I have recently been looking into an
alternative for my current health
insurance. In the process, I stumbled upon
the Health Savings Account (HSA) - (IRS
Publication 969). I understand that this
intended for people who already possess
health insurance and that insurance must
have a certain deductible. My question for
you is this.
How would one go about proposing/creating
a specialized HSA. Here is what I am
looking for:
This Specialized HSA (SHSA) is
tax-deferred savings account for medical
expenses, that DOES NOT require the
account-holder to have a high deductible
health plan. In short this type of account
would serve as the account-holder's
primary health "insurance."
1) Contributions are made by employee and
employer by payroll deduction (similiar to
401k)
2) Employee can claim a tax deduction for
the contributions they or someone other
than their employee make to the account,
even if the employee does not itemize
their return
3) Contributions from employers are
excluded from gross income
4) Account is portable. Contributions
remain in account from year to year until
used
5) The interest and other earning in the
account are tax free
6) Distributions are tax free if they are
used for qualified medical expenses (IRS
Publication 502). These include doctor’s
fees, prescriptions, and hospital
services.
7) You can receive distributions at any
time. If a distribution is for anything
other than medical expenses, the
distribution is subject to tax and
additional 10% penalty tax. Distributions
are reported to the IRS with form 1099-SA
8 ) Distributions can be made for anyone
you have claimed as a dependant, yourself,
or your spouse.
ALL of these features exist with a
standard HSA.
I have asked around about this and I've
been told by countless individuals that
they would sign up for one in a heart beat
BUT It'll never happen BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT WONT ALLOW IT. I don't like
taking NO for an answer. I was wondering
if anyone has any insight into this. Could
someone maybe point me in the rigth
direction? Any help would be appreciated.
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This page was last updated on June 11, 2008