Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are loved by investors due to their ‘triple tax advantage’ (tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth, and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses),
Unfortunately, a new study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) suggests that those with HSAs are not necessarily taking advantage of all of the possible benefits the accounts offer and are leaving money on the table.
They looked at a database with more than 13 million HSAs and found that average contributions in 2021 were $4,527 less than the statutory maximum contribution for accountholders with family coverage (which was $7,200 in 2021) and $927 below the maximum for individuals ($3,600 in 2021), which greatly limited what these accounts could amass over time.
Further, only 12% of accountholders invested in assets other than cash, limiting the tax-deferred growth benefits HSAs offer.
There's more.
Just over half of accountholders withdrew funds from the account, further limiting the potential for tax-deferred compound growth in their accounts. One suggestion I make to my clients is not to use the account for current medical expenses if you have other funds..This will leave more money for medical expenses in retirement.
So keep making those contributions and if you don’t use the money right away - not to worry! An HSA does not have a “use it or lose it” provision like the Flexible Spending Account (FSA). As long as the funds were permitted to be contributed into the HSA in the first place, the funds can remain in the account for an extended period of time.
So...
- Put in the max!
- Let it grow in assets other than cash!
- Try not to use it!
You'll be maximizing this wonderful tax saving vehicle!