When presenting HSAs to employees for the first time, employers talk about the amount of the deductible first. This mistake is guaranteed to poison the well against HSAs - and very difficult to recover from. (I learned this lesson the hard way. I came home and told my wife we had a new health plan with a $3,000 deductible.)

Instead, talk about the money that the employer will deposit in the account first, not about the deductible. This is exactly what you should say: “Those single employees who choose the HSA will have $2,000 deposited in your account over the course of the year to be used to meet your health care needs. If you spend all that money during the year, your insurance kicks in.”

Creative employers have distributed envelopes with a check for $2,000 made out to single employees (or $4,000 for employees with families) at the benefits meeting. Then the check is collected and the employees are then told: those who choose the HSA will have this money deposited into their account. Employees immediately understand it is their money, which they can have, if they choose the HSA.

Here is another tip, invite the spouses so they are present when you explain the new health plan.