HSA Focalpoint

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

Direct Deposit for your Quarterly Referral Fees.

You can now have your First Horizon Msaver quarterly referral fees directly deposited into your bank account. Simply fill out the Electronic Funds Transfer Form and send it to our office along with a voided check.

First Horizon Msaver, Inc

7400 W 110 St, Ste 520

Overland Park, KS 66210

Please note that if you choose to have your referral fee direct deposited, you will continue to receive the account breakdowns each quarter for your records.

Push on to Change Health Savings Accounts.

dallas.bizjournals.com,  August 1, 2008
“The motivation is the same - to give the consumer more control and replace all such consumer driven health plans with just a single account: the Universal Health Savings Account,” said Goodman, who is president and CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis. (Read More)

HSA Enrollments Continue To Rise, New Trends.

hsafinder.com,  July , 2008
One interesting new statistic that is encouraging for insurance providers is the fact that that the number of respondents who said HSAs were their first choice rose above 50%. This is the first time this preference has been reported by a majority of respondents.
(Read More)

Health Care Cost Trends Leveling: Report.

www.businessinsurance.com,  July 25, 2008
The growth in health care costs paid by employers is expected to level off in 2009 following five years of deceleration, a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute predicts. (Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

Direct Deposit for your Quarterly Referral Fees.

You can now have your First Horizon Msaver quarterly referral fees directly deposited into your bank account. Simply fill out the Electronic Funds Transfer Form and send it to our office along with a voided check.

First Horizon Msaver, Inc

7400 W 110 St, Ste 520

Overland Park, KS 66210

Please note that if you choose to have your referral fee direct deposited, you will continue to receive the account breakdowns each quarter for your records.

IRS Issues Proposed Rules on HSA Comparable Contributions.

hr.cch.com, July 22, 2008
The Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed pension tax regulations that provide guidance on employer comparable contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) under Code Sec. 4980G. The proposed regulations allow an employer to contribute to the HSAs of non-highly compensated employees in an amount that is larger than the employer’s contribution to the HSAs of the highly compensated employees with comparable coverage during a period. (Read More)

New HSA “Grab Bag” Guidance Helps Employers.

cobracs.com, July 15, 2008
In late June, Notice 2008-59 provided employers with needed clarification on many issues relating to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The IRS Notice takes immediate effect and could spark an increase in HSA-related activity as benefit planning begins in earnest for 2009.
The IRS organized the 42 questions into seven topic areas:

* Eligibility
* High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs)
* Contributions
* Distributions
* Prohibited Transactions
* Establishing an HSA
* Administration

Notice 2008-59 is available at: www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/notice200859.pdf.
(Read More)

It’s a Good Time to Take a Close Look Health Savings Accounts.

www.ledgerdelaware.com, July 11, 2008
Employers face a dual problem: they must keep their costs under control, because that’s essential to operating profitably, and they must provide plans that meet their employees’ needs, because that’s essential to keeping a capable and satisfied staff.

Fortunately, there is an option that small to mid-sized employers should consider: the combination of a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and a Health Savings Account (HSA). (Read More)

This is not a Fad -

The Rise of the Consumer-Directed Market.

www.benefitsellingmag.com, July 1, 2008
Regardless of the outcome of this year’s presidential election, the U.S. health care system is already undergoing a paradigm shift unlike any we have seen in a generation. Whether we know it or not, the way we pay for health care in this country is already changing rapidly.
(Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

IRS Provides Guidance on HSA Issues.

workforce.com, June 26, 2008
Internal Revenue Service guidance released Wednesday, June 25, provides answers to many health savings account-related questions raised by employers and consultants. To read the guidance, visit http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/notice200859.pdf. (Read More)

HSA Offers Hope to Those with High Deductibles.

suburbanchicagonews.com, June 29, 2008
For those individuals with high deductible health plans, the news is not all bad. The good news is that there are various programs available that provide tax advantages to offset health-care costs for these individuals. The IRS each year continues to increase the benefits of establishing one of these programs in particular - the Health Savings Account. (Read More)

Patients Rarely use Online Ratings to Pick Physicians.

ama-assn.org, June 24, 2008
Although more than 80% of California’s adults turn to the Internet for health-related information, less than one-quarter have looked at physician ratings sites, according to a poll commissioned by the California HealthCare Foundation. Only 2% of those surveyed made a change in physicians based on information posted on a rating site, the survey found. (Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

CVS Adds New Health Savings, Flexible Spending Account Tracking Tools.

progressivegrocer.com, June 19, 2008
CVS/pharmacy is aiming to make it easier for shoppers enrolled in health savings account (HSA)-eligible insurance plans and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to save money and track eligible health purchases as part of its ExtraCare rewards program. (Read More)

Celent: HSA Balances Are Growing.

lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com, June 18, 2008
Average health savings account balances climbed to $1,400 in January, from $1,028 in December 2006. (Read More)

Health Care Debate Alive and Well at Institute 2008.

ahiphiwire.org, June 23, 2008
Election years bring out the best in everybody. This year’s AHIP Institute 2008 is no exception-at least among the three speakers at last Thursday morning’s keynote address, “Health, Humanity and Politics: Prospects for Reform.” (Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

Black, Gould & Associates Selects First Horizon Msaver as Preferred HSA Provider.

primnewswire.com, June 10, 2008
First Horizon Msaver Inc., a subsidiary of First Tennessee Bank National Association, announced today that it had been selected by Black, Gould & Associates Inc., a general agency based in Phoenix, Ariz., as preferred Health Savings Account (HSA) provider. (Read More)

How To Choose A Healthcare Plan.

investopedia.com, June 13, 2008
Health insurers want to keep costs down, and you want to keep your health up. Sometimes these two agendas clash, and it can feel like your insurer doesn’t have your best interests in mind. However, you can make the most of your health insurance by understanding the options available to you and choosing a plan that best suits your needs. (Read More)

McCain, Obama Promise More Health-Care Coverage, Differently.

ahiphiwire.org, June 16, 2008

As the presidential race sharpens its focus on the policy differences that define and separate Obama and McCain, nowhere are those differences more striking than in health care. (Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

IRS Notice Details Procedures For IRA Transfer To HSAs.

hr.cch.com, June 9, 2008
The Internal Revenue Service has provided detailed guidance to implement a 2006 amendment to health savings account (HSA) legislation that provides plans the option to allow employees to start an HSA by making a one-time tax-free transfer of individual retirement account (IRA) funds. (Read More)

Banks Could Give Insurers a Run for Their HSA Money by Selling Health Coverage.

aishealth.com, June 6, 2008
Several of the nation’s largest health insurers operate banks that administer health accounts opened by their enrollees. But continued growth of health savings accounts (HSAs) could prompt banks to launch their own health insurance companies, some industry observers predict. (Read More)

Your Opinion Counts!
We want to know what you think. Click here to complete a short survey about HSAs.

What on Earth Is a Health Savings Account?

independent.com, June 1, 2008
It’s like having the U.S. Treasury subsidize your health care. With an HSA-qualified deductible plan, you get lower monthly premiums in exchange for a higher annual deductible. Unlike a traditional deductible plan, once you are enrolled in an HSA-qualified plan, you have the opportunity to open an HSA and fund it. These funds can be used to pay for current or future qualified medical expenses. (Read More)

IRS Releases 2009 Health Savings Account Limits.

mondaq.com, May 30, 2008
On May 13, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2008-29, establishing the 2009 annual Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution limitations and High Deductible Health Care (HDHC) plan limitations (adjusted for inflation) for qualified Health Savings Accounts (HSA). The limitations are effective for calendar year 2009. (Read More)

Health Savings Accounts Continue to Draw Interest.

bizjournals.com, May 16, 2008
The Mountain States Employers Council survey also shows a steady rise in the number of companies offering health-reimbursement accounts, or HRAs. The Denver-based group also found 18 percent of employers surveyed offer an HSA, up from 15 percent last year and from 7 percent in 2006. (Read More)

HSA Contribution Caps, Deductibles to Rise in 2009.

businessinsurance.com, May 14, 2008
In 2009, the maximum contribution that can be made to an HSA for employees with single coverage will be $3,000-up from $2,900 in 2008-while the maximum contribution for those with family coverage will rise to $5,950 from $5,800. (Read More)

Winn-Dixie Makes It Easier for Customers to Use Their HSA and FSA Cards.

businesswire.com, May 14, 2008
Upgraded software will allow the checkout system to identify qualifying products, charge them to the HSA or FSA account, and then automatically subtract that amount from the total owed for all other purchases. Formerly, customers using HSA/FSA cards to purchase these items had to pay for them at the pharmacy and then go to the regular checkout lanes to pay for the remainder of their items. (Read More)

Use of Health Savings Accounts is Stirring Political Debate.

mlive.com, May 19, 2008
As the number of HSA-eligible enrollees has increased in the Lone Star State and elsewhere across the U.S., so, too, has the political divide between the proponents and critics of HSAs. (Read More)

Far From ‘Flawed,’ HSAs Fill a Huge Gap.

businessinsurance.com, May 12, 2008
When it comes to health savings accounts, it’s clear that Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., needs an education. Rep. Stark, who chairs the House Ways and Means Health subcommittee, last week described HSAs, and the high-deductible health insurance plans to which HSAs must be linked, as “flawed policy.” (Read More)

House Panel to Hold Hearing on HSAs.

businessinsurance.com, May 12, 2008
The hearing comes in the wake of the release of a survey by trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans that found enrollment in HSA-linked plans jumped to 6.1 million as of Jan. 1, 2008, a 35% increase from the same period a year ago. (Read More)

Georgia Gov. Perdue Signs Bill Establishing Tax Exemptions For Employer-Provided High-Deductible Health Plans.

healthnewstoday.com, May 12, 2008
According to former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), founder of the Center for Health Transformation, as many as 500,000 state residents could gain health coverage through the bill. Gingrich said the bill is “ideal” and “moves us in the right direction.” (Read More)

HSA Enrollment Surges: Survey.

businessinsurance.com, April 30, 2008
Enrollment in health savings accounts linked to high-deductible health insurance plans continues to surge with 6.1 million people covered by HSAs as of Jan. 1, a 35% increase over Jan. 1, 2007, according to a survey released Wednesday. (Read More)

Milliman Report on 30,000 Employees with HSAs and HRAs.

hsacoalition.org, April 28, 2008
The results show that CDHPs are creating savings for employers of 4.8%. After adjusting for induced utilization typically found in high-deductible plans, the additional savings amount to 1.5%. The more significant savings should not be dismissed, however, because induced utilization is a key component of the savings strategy inherent to consumer-driven health plans. (Read More)

McCain Wants to Shift Health Insurance From Employers to Marketplace.

ahiphiwire.org, April 29, 2008
Under McCain’s plan, anyone could get the credit, and those who like their company health care plan could choose to stay in it. The credit would be available as a rebate to people at lower income levels who have no tax liability, Holtz-Eakin said. (Read More)

Senator DeMint Introduces ‘Health Care Equity Act.’

ahiphiwire.org, April 21, 2008
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) recently introduced legislation, S. 2835, that seeks to achieve greater equity in the tax treatment of health insurance while also addressing a significant issue affecting Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). (Read More)