Whether you’re covered by an employer sponsored group health plan or have an individual health insurance program, chances are you are paying a good portion of the premium dollars each month yourself.  As we all know, these costs continue to rise each and every year, with no end in sight.  There are options that are much less expensive, but they normally have limited benefits or provide only a small portion of the coverage necessary when you need it the most.  However, there are plans that not only reduce your premium costs, but still offer full major medical coverage and can also save you hundreds of dollars or more each year in taxes.   These are Health Savings Account (or HSA) plans.  The philosophy behind these types of plans is pretty simple… you are insured by a qualified high deductible health plan and the out-of-pocket expenses are paid through a separate checking account that you establish.  The contributions… not the distributions… to this account are deductible each year when filing your taxes.   And even though the plan’s deductible is generally higher than what many have carried in the past, the total out-of-pocket expense, should you ever need to utilize the plan, are often times far less.  HSA plans aren’t for everyone, but they certainly offer an option that will save a lot of premium dollars, which is something we can all appreciate.  If you are not currently enrolled in an HSA plan, contact your Barney Insurance representative who will be more than happy to make a comparison for you.