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Sunday, June 21, 2026 Tired of hearing about Health Savings Accounts? Don’t blame you. Almost done . . . . . . As recently noted, employers contributing to HSAs can choose the levels and frequency of contributions, but must treat all employees the same and, once paid out, those employer contributions are owned by the employee. Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are a little different. We frequently use them to back-fill even higher deductibles than the minimum

Sunday, June 14, 2026 After reading last week’s Tip (HERE), one ‘subscriber’ commented the average Health Savings Account balance (~$2,700) seemed low. I agree, (Doubting) ‘Thomas' and thanks for so carefully reading my Tips. (But, get a life!) Factors in play here: It’s been widely reported 40-57% of Americans have less than $1,000 of savings, so unless the employer contributes to the HSA, uptake is limited. (More on that next week.) For people living paycheck to payche

Sunday, June 7, 2026 Long before Tip # 1 (2010), we (snail) mailed The Rauser Review newsletter. (Catchy title, huh?!) Each RR included ‘A View from the Crow’s Nest’ predicting employee benefits trends. One CN column described our modest success selling Golden Rule MSAs; Medical Savings Accounts (aka Archer MSAs), authorized as a pilot program under HIPAA (1996). That caught the attention of RR ‘subscriber’ Congressman Paul Ryan. He came to our office to learn more. (Trul

Sunday, May 31, 2026 One requirement for renewing my insurance license every two years in June (birth month), is the completion of (coincidentally) 24 continuing education credits. (Get it?) Like those who wait until April 15th to file tax returns, yours truly was online just this week reading course materials, then taking exams. Friday was the last (“Medicare Coordination with Employer Health Plans”); a tedious review of regs I should already know, followed by 50 (intent