Mythsmashers

We put your HSA plan myths to the test.

Why pay thousands more?

When you choose the PPO, you're paying thousands of dollars more each year to get the same network of doctors, same covered services and same out-of-pocket protection. You're also missing out on the BMC Health Savings Account contribution. Is this really the best use of your dollars?

Employee Only Employee + Spouse Employee + Child(ren) Family
PPO $3,280.00 $8,500.00 $6,387.00 $12,418.00
HSA $964.00 $3,625.00 $2,530.00 $4,930.00
Savings: $2,316.00 $4,875.00 $3,857.00 $7,488.00

If you’re willing to pay thousands more for the PPO, why not use your dollars more effectively? Just take the difference between the PPO premium and the HSA premium and save it in your HSA. When you do, you’ll have enough to cover your WHOLE HSA Plan deductible and get to keep any money you don’t use.

Myth 1

“I'll have to change doctors if I switch.”

  • The HSA is a different plan, so it has a different network of doctors.
    I'll have to switch doctors if I choose the HSA Plan.

    Let's put this myth to the test!

  • The PPO Plan uses the Blue Choice PPO network.

    Which network does the HSA Plan use?

  • The HSA Plan uses the Blue Choice PPO network, also.

  • Switching to the HSA Plan doesn't mean changing doctors.

    Both plans use the same network of doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other medical providers.

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Myth 2

“We aren't healthy enough to switch to the HSA.”

  • I have little kids and they are sick all the time. And my husband and I are getting older. We just aren't healthy enough to switch to the HSA.

    Let's put this myth to the test!

  • Meet Jane. She covers her entire family with BMC's medical benefits.

    They only use network doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.

    Two kids, an older husband and a hard working BMC employee use a lot of health care in a year.

  • Her two kids usually get sick several times a year.

    6 pediatrician visits = $100 x 6 =

    4 rounds of antibiotics = $20 x 4 =

  • She and her husband take medicine every day, so they use the mail order service to save on their drugs.

    4 daily medicines = $80 x 4 medicines x 4 fills =

  • Her husband got hurt in an accident and spent three days in the hospital.

    1 Hospital stay =

  • All that care adds up to .

    If they choose the HSA, they pay $4,930.00 in premiums and meet their $7,400 out-of-pocket maximum.

    If they choose the PPO, they pay $12,418.00 in premiums and meet their $7,400 out-of-pocket maximum.

  • The family wasn't very healthy, but the numbers and paycheck costs alone smashed this myth.

    The PPO costs more than the HSA whether your family needs a little care or a lot.

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Myth 3

“The HSA is too hard to use.”

  • You know the PPO. You're comfortable using the PPO. You get sick, you slam down a copay at the doctor...super easy.

    The HSA is so different, it must be hard to use. Who has time to learn a new health plan?

    Let's put this myth to the test!

  • When you use the HSA Plan, the mechanics are very similar to any other medical plan. Let's use the most common service – a doctor's office visit – as an example.

  • The HSA Plan uses the same network of doctors as the PPO. So when you need care, you call up your doctor and make an appointment just like you do now.

  • When you check out with the front desk, you don't pay. That's a difference from the PPO, but not more difficult.

  • Your doctor's office files your claim, and Blue Cross Blue Shield processes it. If you are still working toward meeting your deductible, your doctor's office may collect from you at the time of the visit or will send you a bill. If you have money in your HSA, you can just use your debit card to pay when you receive service or the bill.

  • If you have already met your deductible, the Plan pays 85% of the cost and you get a bill from your doctor's office for the rest.

    That's different, but not too difficult.

  • If you have already met your deductible and your out-of-pocket maximum, the Plan pays 100% of the cost.

    That's actually the same way it works in the PPO.

  • Does getting a bill from your doctor instead of paying a copay make the HSA Plan too hard to use?

    Is that office visit copay worth thousands of extra dollars in paycheck costs?

  • What if you put those extra dollars in your Health Savings Account?

    No matter if you cover yourself, your whole family or just your kids, you can save enough in just the difference in the paycheck costs to pay your WHOLE HSA deductible.

    Plus, BMC will match the money you put in your Health Savings Account up to certain limits. Learn more.

  • Yes, the HSA works a little differently than the PPO.

    But for the small learning curve you can:

    • Save enough money to fully fund your deductible.
    • Get the same coverage.
    • Have the same network of doctors.

    We feel confident in our conclusion...

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Myth 4

“The HSA Plan is too expensive.”

  • You have to pay more than a copay to see the doctor. The deductible is higher. So, the HSA Plan is just too expensive to pick.

    Let's put this myth to the test!

  • Cost is pretty straightforward. First, let's look at just the paycheck costs.

  • No matter who you cover, the HSA costs a lot less. Plus you get BMC money for your account when you choose the HSA.

  • But premium costs are just part of the equation. Let's compare the copays, deductibles and the out-of-pocket maximums.

    Copays Deductibles Out-of-pocket Maximums
    Individual Family Individual All Others
    PPO Copays for
    office visits    		 $875 $1,750 $3,700 $7,400
    HSA No Copays $1,850 $3,700 $3,700 $7,400
    Difference $975 $1,950 $0 $0

  • Those copays and that lower deductible make the PPO seem cheaper. But they come at a hefty price.

    Employee + Spouse + Child(ren) Family
    True Cost of PPO copays + deductible* $2,316.00 $4,875.00 $3,857.00 $7,488.00

    * Difference in annual paycheck costs between the HSA and PPO.

  • If you took the difference between the PPO premium and the HSA premium and saved that in your HSA, you would have enough to pay your WHOLE HSA deductible. And that doesn't even count the money BMC contributes to your HSA.

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