Review your health plan If you're still on that old HMO, reevaluate your family's health situation - you may benefit more from a flexible spending account.  (Fortune Magazine) -- If you are covered by an employer-sponsored health plan, chances are you'll have a high-deductible plan linked to a health savings account to consider this year - along with the usual array of HMOs, PPOs and point of service plans. It may be a tempting choice, but when it comes to health insurance, the cheaper option often has hidden costs. Instead of shopping simply by premium price, take a careful look at how your family actually used your insurance in the past year and, more important, how your needs may have changed. For healthy individuals and for families with young kids, an HMO may indeed be the cheapest, best choice. But a new diagnosis in the past year - asthma, diabetes, infertility, depression - may mean you need a different plan.
If you're eligible for a flexible-spending account, which lets you set aside pretax dollars for out-of-pocket health-care costs like co-pays, eye care and over-the-counter drugs, be sure to sign up. Families earning $75,000 with two kids can save $600 if they sock away $5,000. And thanks to a 2005 IRS ruling, you may have until March 15 to use the money. Check with your employer. Next steps: 6. Clean up your taxable account 7. Do a property insurance checkup 8. Check the new credits and taxes Previous steps: 3. Sock it away 4. Give smarter 5. Review your health plan _______________________________ Your Health, Your Bucks. The odds are increasing that you'll be offered a health savings account. Should you accept? Cut your health care costs. 5 Tips: What you can do to keep your health care spending down. |
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