Idaho Bills

Amends existing law to clarify that the Department of Administration shall offer a health savings account program and to provide that state employers shall deposit a certain amount into a health savings account.

This legislation requires the state to offer state employees a health benefit plan that utilizes Health Savings Accounts (HSA) paired with high-deductible health plans. An HSA is a tax-free financial account that is designed to allow state employees to set aside money for current and future medical expenses. This legislation further requires that the employer cost of the HSA-compatible health plan does not exceed the average per person employer cost of traditional insurance plans that the state is currently offering. HSA's, paired with high-deductibe health plans, can create a win-win situation for taxpayers and public employees. The plans provide state employees more savings, choice and control over their health care needs and expenses, while offering an opportunity for the State to reduce its health insurance costs for state employees.