WHICH IS WHY WE SHOULD ALL BE AUTO-ENROLLED AT BIRTH:

When AT&T switched his health plan several years back, project manager Dave Eis says he found himself with only one option -- a high-deductible plan. Today, he sees it as a good thing.

"Cost-wise I didn't perceive it as negative, because it lowered my premiums. My monthly premiums probably went at the time from $250 down to $60 per month," he says.

His family insurance policy comes with a deductible of more than $2,600, allowing Eis, 55, to open a health savings account. He uses it to sock away extra money to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses, and has put aside a nice sum.

"I try to avoid tapping into it, and I've been able to max out the savings," he says.

Health savings accounts, or HSAs, can be a good value for some people like Eis. They are investment accounts -- like a 401(k) retirement plan or a 529 college savings plan -- that can be opened by anyone enrolled in a qualified health insurance plan with a deductible of at least $1,300 for an individual or $2,600 for a family.

But not everyone is convinced. Critics have argued that these accounts primarily benefit young and healthy people who don't use a lot of medical services and high-income individuals who are more likely to benefit from the investment tax breaks.

Follow @brothersjudd