New MN employee with 2 insurance options (high deductible with HSA or copay and deductible)

Hello! I’m a new employee in Minnesota (professor at a university) and have to decide between two health insurance options.

Background: I’m a woman in my late 30s, fairly healthy, and the only medication I’m on are birth control and spironolactone (to help with acne). I don’t go to the doctor often (maybe 1-2 times a year). I might use urgent care or virtual doctor’s if I get sick or injured (my last injury when I tripped while running during a fitness class and scrapped my chin and used telehealth to get advice on how to treat my skin so it doesn’t scar.)

Here’s a breakdown of the two options: https://imgur.com/a/4GaUQ4e

I ran some numbers and got this estimate if I were to go to the doctor 2 times per year, use urgent care 2-3 times per year, and use telehealth 3 times per year: https://imgur.com/a/FL7IEu4

On the surface, Maize seems like a better plan for me, but I can’t help but wonder if having an HSA through the Blue plan is better. On Maize I’m paying $2,004 in premium + $392 for medical costs and prescription.

On the Blue, I’m paying $1,644 in premium + $1,131 for medical costs and prescription. But excuse my ignorance as I’ve never had an HSA or FSA… if I’m reading this correctly, is it true that my employer contributes $1,200 into the HSA so I can use that money to pay for my medical costs? If my medical and prescription is $1,131 per year, am I getting reimbursed for the medical and prescription costs eventually in the end? Is that $1,200 just free money? Or is that coming out of my paycheck? Or is that their matching?

See also  Why would someone hide policy papers and certificate of insurance?

Thanks for your help! I plan to call Health Partners on Monday (it’s Saturday now), but thought I’d ask around and get people’s opinions.