1. The battle to come will be over winning accounts away from competitors.

Says the report, "Providing stellar customer service and competitive fee structures are the two leading factors that will help win that battle. Retaining existing accounts in an environment where turnover is inevitable is an imminent priority."

The Health Savings Account market seems to be slowing in growth, according to a report from Aite Group. Employers and providers might want to keep a few things in mind about the HSA market as they consider future iterations of health benefits.

The slides that follow list 7 factors the report suggests should be top of mind. The article below tells more. (All photos: Shutterstock)

7. Just 8 percent of employers began offering HSAs in the last year.

This is a substantial drop, especially compared with employers who have been offering HSAs for longer periods. It predicts a likely drop in HSA enrollments that will not be what providers, custodians, and others want to see.

6. Among employer benefit decisionmakers, 42 percent are not planning on offering high-deductible health plans over the 3 three years.

While 40 percent say they are considering HDHPs during that period, the fact that a greater percentage won't be doing so means that providers will have to consider that in plan design and offerings.

5. As of Q1 2019, only 32 percent of employees have enrolled in HSAs.

According to the report, 244 out of the 303 professionals surveyed said that they currently offer HDHPs to employees, but not all of those are eligible for HSAs. In addition, just offering an HSA-eligible plan isn't enough; employees might simply not enroll. The percentage of employees enrolled in health insurance, on the other hand, stands at 67 percent.

4. The discussion is changing from high deductibles—a turnoff to prospective enrollees—to financial wellness.

Several factors could account for this, including employers seeking alternative benefits, a lack of promotion of HDHPs and employees being squeezed too much financially to want to consider high deductibles and thus not signing up for them and their accompanying HSAs.

3. Young people are too strapped financially to be eager to fund HSAs.

Between student debt and other financial demands, younger workers have a tough time setting aside extra money, whether it be for HSAs or 401(k)s, and one illness or accident can wipe out not just deductibles but also any available cash.

2. Only about 23 percent of HSA account holders invest most or all of their contributions.

About 34 percent have balances at the end of the year and 44 percent spend all their contributions, and any contributions from their employer, by the end of the year.

1. The battle to come will be over winning accounts away from competitors.

Says the report, "Providing stellar customer service and competitive fee structures are the two leading factors that will help win that battle. Retaining existing accounts in an environment where turnover is inevitable is an imminent priority."