The Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI) released a report, finding that cumulative health savings account (HSA) and health reimbursement account (HRA) balances increased from $835 million in 2006 to $7.7 billion in 2010.  The number of HSAs and HRAs also increased from 1.2 million to 5.7 million over the same period, while the average account balance increased from $696 to $1,353.  The authors found that individuals with higher account balances were more likely to exhibit healthy behaviors like exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.  However, the report found no relationship between account balance and the likelihood of exhibiting cost-conscious behaviors, like checking prices for health services or requesting generic drugs.  The report suggests further research is needed, particularly to explore differences between individuals with HSAs and HRAs.

From the report:

ASSET LEVELS GROWING: In 2010, there was $7.7 billion in health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), spread across 5.7 million accounts. This is up from 2006, when there were 1.2 million accounts with $835.4 million in assets, and 2009, when 5 million accounts held $7.1 billion in assets.

AFTER LEVELING OFF, AVERAGE ACCOUNT BALANCE DROPS SLIGHTLY: Increases in average account balances leveled off in 2008 and 2009, and fell slightly in 2010. In 2006, account balances averaged $696. They increased to $1,320 in 2007, a 90 percent increase. Account balances averaged $1,356 in 2008 and $1,419 in 2009, 3 percent and 5 percent increases, respectively. In 2010, average account balances fell to $1,355, down 4.5 percent from the previous year.

Full Report: Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements: Assets, Account Balances, and Rollovers, 2006-2010 (PDF | 594 KB)

Employee Benefit Research Institute. (2011). Health savings accounts and health reimbursement arrangements: assets, account balances, and rollovers, 2006- 2010. Fronstin, P.