Two strikes against HSAs. “But in many cases, people have evidently signed up not because they are eager to direct their own medical spending but because the plan looked cheap or they had no other insurance option. And at least half of those enrolled have not put money in their health savings accounts. So there will be no money building up for next year’s out-of-pocket expenses “” a big selling point for these health plans.

In addition, many employers have been slow to offer the plans. And companies that do so have been reluctant to encourage worker participation by contributing money to the savings accounts. The employers figure that ‘portability’ means that their money will go out the door with workers who leave.”