Pioneers in 5 Star Service • Ronstadt Insurance • Tucson, AZ • 520-721-4848

Archive for Items Categorized 'Uncategorized'

Know Your Benefits: A Guide to HSAs and HDHPs

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are tax-advantaged tools designed to help individuals pay for healthcare costs. To qualify, a person must be enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and meet specific criteria regarding age and dependency status. The text details the financial benefits of these accounts, such as the ability to lower taxable income through contributions and the “triple tax savings” on earnings and withdrawals. It also outlines strict annual limits for contributions and out-of-pocket spending for the years 2025 and 2026. Furthermore, the source emphasizes the portability and ownership of the funds, noting that the money stays with the individual regardless of job changes or retirement. Finally, it explains how these funds can be utilized for qualified medical expenses and the penalties associated with using the money for non-health purposes.

Proposed Improvements to Health Plan Price Transparency Requirements

Federal departments have introduced a proposed rule designed to refine existing price transparency standards for health insurance providers and group plans. Rather than creating new mandates, these updates aim to enhance the usability and accuracy of digital cost-comparison tools and public machine-readable files. Key changes include reducing the frequency of data updates to ease administrative burdens and ensuring that cost-sharing information is accessible via telephone to comply with the No Surprises Act. Although these measures are not yet final, they reflect a significant push by the Trump administration to make healthcare pricing more visible to the public. Employers are encouraged to track these developments, as most will need to coordinate with service providers to ensure future compliance. The proposed timeline suggests many of these technical adjustments could take effect for plan years starting in 2027.