Four years ago, the hot new idea for reining in health costs was the health savings account, and the thinking was that such accounts would slow spiraling medical costs for both employers and consumers.
But today, only 5% of the 114 million Americans covered at work opting for such health plans. In Texas, regarded as the birthplace of the HSA, only 387,000 people have signed up out of the 12 million with employer-provided insurance.