A health savings account (HSA) and a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) are both meant to help with medical costs, but there are vast differences between the two. An HSA acts as a personal saving account, where you can set aside tax-free dollars to be used toward out-of-pocket health care expenses. An HMO is typically a low-cost health insurance plan.
It’s tough to directly compare an HSA vs. HMO, as they serve different functions. But understanding how each works, and their pros and cons, can help lower medical costs and keep more money in your wallet. Here, you will learn:
• How an HSA works
• How to set up an HSA
• The pros and cons of an HSA
• How an HMO works
• How to set up an HMO
• The pros and cons of an HMO
• The key differences of an HSA vs. HMO
• How to fund healthcare costs.
What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?
A health savings account (HSA) allows individuals to put away pre-tax dollars to be used for future medical purposes. These funds can be used for copays, dental and eye care, and a host of other expenses not covered by a healthcare plan.
Here’s the catch: You have to be enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). An HDHP is geared to offer you lower monthly health-insurance payments. The downside, however, is that you could get hit with a lot of out-of-pocket expenses before meeting the plan’s high deductible.
That’s where a Health Savings Account (HSA) comes in. The money in your HSA can help bridge the gap between your high deductible and your pocketbook.
💡 Quick Tip: Help your money earn more money! Opening a bank account online often gets you higher-than-average rates.
How Does a Health Savings Account Work?
A Health Savings Account works similarly to other kinds of saving accounts. You can transfer funds and pay bills online. You are free to withdraw HSA funds at any time to pay for health costs not covered by your HDHP.
Employers can contribute to your HSA, with direct deposits made straight from payroll. HSA funds can be used for you or any family member covered by your HDHP.
The money in your HSA can remain in the account and roll over every year, accumulating tax-free interest. You can even use your HSA for retirement. After the age of 65, you can start withdrawing from your HSA with no penalty.
There are rules and limits to an HSA. For tax year 2023, the IRS limits contributions to no more than $3,850 for individuals and $7,750 for families with HDHP coverage. Those 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution. For 2024, HSA contribution limits are $4,150 for individuals and $8,300 for families. Those 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution.
How to Set Up an HSA
Setting up a tax-advantaged HSA is pretty straightforward. If you are self-employed, take the time to compare different HSAs online. Many of them have reasonable fees (or none) and minimal requirements.
If your HSA is offered directly through your employer, that makes the decision easy.
The steps to enroll in an HSA are not unlike opening a bank account. You’ll need proof of a government-issued ID, your Social Security number, and proof of your enrollment in a HDHP.
Once you have set up an HSA, you may be able to opt for regular, automatic deposits straight from your paycheck or your bank account, and start reaping the benefits of using a health savings plan.
Pros of an HSA
A health savings plan provides a range of advantages, including:
• Covering out-of-pocket medical expenses, including dental costs, copays, new eye glasses, and hearing aids. The IRS has a lengthy list of all the goodies you can buy with your tax-free dollars.
• Lowering taxable income. HSA contributions go into your account before taxes, so you could pay less taxes down the line.
• Investing for the future. You can opt to have your HSA money invested in chosen mutual funds once you reach a minimum requirement balance.
• Covering health expenses for your family. HSA benefits anyone who is currently covered by your high-deductible savings plan.
• Rollover contributions. Unused contributions don’t vanish. They roll over into the next year, growing and accumulating tax-free interest.
• Retirement savings. Any unused funds can be used to boost retirement savings. They can be withdrawn after the age of 65, and spent as you please. You can put the money toward a beach vacation or any other purpose.
• Portability. If you move or change jobs, the money is still yours. You don’t have to surrender it.
Cons of an HSA
There are some potential disadvantages to having an HSA, including:
• Penalties for non-qualified expenses. Before the age of 65, the IRS can impose a substantial 20% penalty on monetary amounts spent on unapproved purchases. This money will also be viewed as taxable income.
• Monthly/annual fees. Some health savings accounts may charge a low monthly service fee. Service fees tend to be no more than $5 per month. Some HSAs allow you to invest in mutual funds after your balance reaches a certain amount. If you choose this option, you will probably be charged an annual account management fee.
• Unable to contribute. Budgets can get tight. There are times when you might not be able to regularly contribute money to your HSA.
• Tracking for your taxes. HSA expenditures and contributions must be reported on your tax return. Keeping tabs on those transactions can be tedious.
• Monetary losses. As with an IRA or 401(k), if you choose to invest your HSA money in mutual funds, your balance can experience gains and losses as the market fluctuates. These investments are not FDIC-insured like bank accounts are.
💡 Quick Tip: Most savings accounts only earn a fraction of a percentage in interest. Not at SoFi. Our high-yield savings account can help you make meaningful progress towards your financial goals.
What is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)?
A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is a type of health insurance plan. An HMO tends to offer lower monthly or annual premiums and a specific pool of doctors. If you stay within their network of healthcare providers, you may have lower out-of-pocket costs and, unlike with a HDHP, a lower deductible or even no deductible at all.
How Does a Health Maintenance Organization Work?
A health maintenance organization (HMO) plan consists of a group of insurance providers who have contracted certain doctors and hospitals to work with them. These medical professionals and facilities agree on a payment rate for their services, which can translate into reduced costs for you.
As long as you use the doctors in the HMO network, you are eligible for medical services that cost less. HMOs typically require a referral from an in-network primary care physician in order to receive low-cost services from specialists, such as an oncologist or gynecologist.
Many health insurance companies offer HMO plans as a coverage option. An individual can choose the HMO plan and go through the steps of enrollment, either on paper or via an online form. The process includes selecting your primary care physician.
Pros of an HMO
The advantages of enrolling in an HMO plan can include:
• Lower monthly premiums versus other insurance plans.
• Lower out-of-pocket expenses when you see your GP or specialists, have tests done, and access other kinds of medical care.
• Lower prescription costs for your medications.
• Fewer medical claims, as the paperwork is filed in-network.
• Appointing a primary care doctor, whose office may coordinate and advocate for your various medical services.
Cons of an HMO
There are disadvantages of having an HMO, including:
• Limited access to doctors and facilities. You must stay within their network of providers or risk paying out-of-pocket, except in the case of certain emergencies.
• A new primary care doctor. If your current doctor isn’t in the HMO’s network, you’ll have to find a new primary care physician. For some people, this may be a difficult switch to make.
• Referral requirements. To see a specialist and have your HMO pay for those services, you’ll need referrals; you can’t just look up a specialist and see them.
• Strict definitions. There are times when you must very specifically meet requirements to have medical services paid for. This can be important to know during emergencies and other medical situations.
Can You Have Both an HMO and HSA?
Yes. There is no real rivalry happening with HMOs vs. HSAs, as they are so different. But if you are wondering if you can have an HSA with an HMO, here’s what you need to know. You can use an HSA with an HMO, as long as the HMO qualifies as a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Since HMOs are often low cost healthcare plans, an HMO may not qualify as an HDHP. Check with your particular plan to see.
Key Differences Between an HMO vs HSA
• An HSA acts like a savings account, an HMO is a health plan offering savings through lower-cost healthcare options.
• An HSA does not offer a network of doctors, but can offer investment opportunities and help you save for retirement.
Recommended: How to Save for Retirement
Ways to Fund Healthcare Costs
Besides enrolling in a low-cost HMO, or opening an HSA, there are other ways to save money and pay for medical expenses.
Flexible Spending Account
A flexible spending account (FSA) acts very much like an HSA. It is similar to a savings account, and can be used for medical expenses and saving for retirement.
An FSA, however, can only be obtained through an employer. Self-employed people cannot have an FSA.
Money Market Account
A money market account works like a traditional checking or savings account. You could use the money for healthcare costs, or any other purchases. Money market accounts can offer a higher interest rate than other saving accounts, but there may be a higher minimum account balance required and more costly fees.
Savings Account
A traditional savings account can be set up with a bank or a credit union. Funds in a savings account can be spent on anything. But savings accounts may offer lower interest rates than other types of saving options. However, high-yield savings accounts may help close that gap somewhat.
The Takeaway
Enrolling in a health savings plan (HSA) or a health maintenance organization plan (HMO) provides different advantages, with the same goal in mind: saving you money on healthcare costs. Enrolling in one (or both) can bring a sense of security for you and your family and help you hold onto more of your hard-earned cash.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
FAQ
Is an HSA better than an HMO?
An HSA isn’t better; it’s just different. An HSA is a kind of savings account for people enrolled in a high-deductible healthcare plan and is used to pay for medical costs. An HMO is a low-cost health insurance plan that gives you access to a specific network of healthcare professionals.
What happens to an HSA if you switch to an HMO?
You can keep and use an HSA with any type of health plan, as long as it qualifies as a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). If not, you can keep and access the money in the HSA, but you can no longer contribute to it.
What happens to my HSA if I cancel my insurance?
You can continue to use the money in the HSA account, but can no longer contribute to it until you’re enrolled in another HDHP.
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2023 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Photo credit: iStock/Halfpoint
SOBK0324004
