Another Plus For High-Deductible Plans

New rules for plans with health savings accounts could trim your out-of-pocket costs.

- Kaitlin Pitsker

High-deductible health insurance plans with health savings accounts could become more attractive to people with chronic illnesses. Until recently, people who enrolled in high deductible plans had to pay for the medications and services used to manage their conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, until they met their plan’s annual deductible (up to $1,350 for individual coverage or $2,700 for family coverage in 2019) before their insurer would cover treatment.

This summer, in response to an executive order from the White House, the IRS added 14 treatments and services for a range of chronic health conditions to the list of items that insurers may provide as preventive-care benefits under high deductible plans with health savings accounts.