Now that you have an HSA, what do you do with it?

So you have an HSA?  Now what?  You might want to talk to people in your IT department rather than human resources.
According to this article, http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/11/us-moneypack-benefits-hsa-idUSBRE89A0V120121011 it is “because it all comes down to cold, hard math, and the spreadsheet jockeys have probably run the numbers on those plans. While many people shudder at the thought of anything that is “high deductible,” these plans can work out in your favor.”  People are won over once they see the math on these high deductible plans.
The article goes on to lay out a plan to make your HSA work for you.
1. Get over the initial sticker shock. – The deductible is higher than a traditional plan, but the money in the account stays with the account holder forever.
2. Work the freebies. – Well visits for the kids, annual physicals, yearly mammograms – preventive care is free now, and not counted toward the deductible.
3. Know what care costs. – It is worth is to find out how much your care costs.  Hiveaway’s platform allows for pricing transparency.
4. Know your own health. – Whether you are young, old, healthy or have chronic conditions, these plans can work for you.  Young healthy people pay very little and use little and people with conditions requiring care can reach a $3,000 deductible early on and be set for the year.
5. Choose your HSA custodian wisely. – “Just because your employer chooses one home for your account, doesn’t mean you have to stay there. A variety of financial institutions can house your HSA, as it’s functionally just like retirement savings account.”
6. Savers fare better long term. – “The maximum contribution for HSAs in 2013 will be $3,250 for individuals and $6,450 for families, with a $1,000 makeup contribution for those older than 55. You can keep making these pre-tax contributions as long as you have a qualifying high-deductible plan, and any money you leave in the account is yours to carry forward, all the way through retirement. So you could end up socking away quite a bit of money that could grow tax free.”