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AgentMonkey t1_iujo8y6 wrote

Reply to comment by alexm2816 in At what point are the benefits of an HSA outweighed by medical costs? by bgr2258

One great way to get over that hurdle is to actually compare your costs on each plan. I've done it every year for the past 7 years, and there has not been a single time where the cheapest, highest deductible plans wasn't the best financial option: https://imgur.com/a/GL0z8h1

I should note that, while I do invest some of my HSA money, I'm not as enamored with the long-term investing as many are. I use the HSA for all current medical expenses, and only what I don't need gets invested for the long term.

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wilsonhammer t1_iujwffk wrote

OP has done that. They've already found that the PPO is ~$5k cheaper per year and now they're just trying to square that result with the fact that (for everyone else) the hdhp+HSA is the cheaper option by far AND lets you invest.

But their situation is the exception to the rule because they actually have good coverage at a cheap cost.

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AgentMonkey t1_iuk2c8c wrote

Yeah, I was just replying specifically to the comment I replied to and their struggle with the mental hurdle of paying more directly to the provider. I was just sharing what has helped me psychologically get over that hurdle and see the larger picture and how it is actually saving money.

For the OP, yes, the PPO absolutely makes more sense, mainly because the employer is fully covering the premiums. That's also why I don't really like the "standard" advice for HDHP/HSAs, since the specifics of the plans and expenses are really what determines if its worthwhile or not. I don't really think there's a good one-size-fits-all (or one-size-fits-most) rule for HSAs.

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