Financial Advisers Recommend HSAs To Help Cover Retirement Costs

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 26 Apr 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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Some financial advisers have recommended that health savings accounts "can be a way for families to accumulate money to be used to cover health care costs in retirement, including Medicare deductibles and long-term care insurance" because contributions to HSAs continue to accumulate from year to year, the AP/Chicago Sun-Times reports. In addition to long-term care and Medicare costs, seniors can use contributions accumulated in HSAs for chiropractic treatment, nursing services, and dental and vision care, according to JoAnn Mills Laing, chief executive of Information Strategies. New rules for HSAs increased the maximum annual contribution to the accounts to $2,850 for individuals and $5,650 for families. In addition, the new rules allow a one-time transfer of funds from health reimbursement arrangements and flexible spending accounts to HSAs. Hugh Bromma, chief executive of Entrust Group, said that HSAs "should be especially attractive to younger people who are healthy and don't expect a lot of claims." Contributions to HSAs accumulate "tax free and, if you don't use it, it's terrific savings," he said, adding, "So if you can, why not have both a retirement account and an HSA?" (Alt Powell, AP/Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23).

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