Kaiser HSA Health Plans Information

HMO HSA Health Plan (DU Contribution to Health Savings Account) : This plan offered by Kaiser is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan. Services must be rendered by and through Kaiser in order to be covered under this plan (except emergency services). Preventative services are covered prior to meeting the deductible. Please note: all deductibles apply once per calendar year.

This plan meets the definition of a “qualified” High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), which is required to initiate a special tax advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA). The employee and employer may contribute to an employee's HSA. Employee contributions to an HSA are optional. DU also makes a contribution to this HMO HSA. Please see Health Plan Rates for the plan year that begins July 1, 2010.

The money going into the HSA is tax-free, earns interest tax-free, and is not taxed when withdrawn to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. In addition, the account is yours even if you change jobs, move to another state, or opt out of the Kaiser HMO HSA health plan. Unlike a flexible spending account your HSA dollars will rollover at the end of the year.

Please note that contribution limits to HSAs have increased and are no longer limited to the deductible amount. For example, for 2010, HSA-eligible individuals with self-only HDHP coverage may contribute up to $3,050 and those with family HDHP coverage may contribute up to $6,150, regardless of their HDHP deductible.

If you participate in an HSA and also wish to participate in the Health Care Flexible Spending Reimbursement Account (FSA) special rules will apply. Please refer to your Benefit Choices 2010 guide under Flexible Spending, or phone 303-871-7420 for further information.

PPO HSA Health Plan (No DU Contribution to Health Savings Account) : This plan, offered by Kaiser, is a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan. Services do not have to be rendered by and through Kaiser in order to be covered under this plan. Please note: all deductibles apply once per calendar year.

There is In-Network and Out-of-Network coverage. Once the deductible is met, the covered individual pays a percentage of the services rendered. The percentage is based on whether the provider is in or out of the Kaiser network. Out-of-Network services are covered at a lower percentage than In-Network services.

Preventative services are covered prior to meeting the deductible. This plan meets the definition of a “qualified” High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), which is required to initiate a Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is a special, tax advantaged account that may be contributed to by Employer and Employee. The money going into the HSA is tax-free, earns interest tax-free, and is not taxed when withdrawn to pay for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses. In addition, the account is yours even if you change jobs, move to another state, or opt out of the Kaiser PPO HSA health plan. Unlike a flexible spending account your HSA dollars will rollover at the end of the year.

Employee contributions to an HSA are optional. However, DU **does not** make a contribution to this PPO HSA. Please see Health Plan Rates for the plan year that begins July 1, 2010.

If you participate in an HSA and also wish to participate in the Health Care Flexible Spending Reimbursement Account (FSA) special rules will apply. Please refer to your 2010 Benefit Choices Guide under Flexible Spending, or phone 303-871-7420 for further information.

For further information please phone 303-871-7420 or benefits@du.edu .