One of my "FIRE Planning/dreaming activities" is looking at the ACA health exchange plans. I've looked at a lot of different plans for the city where I live, and at other "potential retirement" cities across the country.
Something that is VERY PUZZLING to me:
A great majority of the plans have very high deductibles -- so high that they would meet the IRS guidelines to be a HDHP (HSA-eligible) plan.
However, it seems like these plans almost "go out of their way" to make them HSA-ineligible.
For example, the plan I'm looking at right now would fit the HDHP/HSA criteria in every way EXCEPT for it offers a ridiculous (and almost completely useless) $25 co-payment on preferred generic drugs that isn't subject to the deductible. (Mind you, preferred generics are generally those same drugs that most pharmacies offer for $10 or even $4 as a cash price.)
I've noticed similar things on many many many different plans, from different insurance companies, in different geographical locations. What the hell is going on with this?
I have noticed that the (very few!) HSA-compliant plans that I have been able to find on the ACA exchange, often have a much higher monthly premium than similarly featured barely-non-HSA-compliant plans that I mentioned above.
What gives?