Saturday, September 05, 2009
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) Still Part of the Solution
Carol brought this link to my attention, that of the Health Savings Alliance. Because HSAs are focused on the middle class and are intended to encourage savings, wholesome health-related behavior, and one's own, individual evaluation of proposed health services in light of cost, they are scorned by both government and the health industry. Big government and big business compete with each other in the effort keep those decisions away from us. A pox (speaking of health) on both their houses.
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5 comments:
looks like it could be a good thing but is probably a political impossibility, right?
Probably. Sigh.
Why should this be a political impossibility? At our office we have had a High Deductable/HSA health care plan for 4 or 5 years. As far as I know everyone is satisfied with it. From other law office administrators I know that it's becoming more common with law firms, so I would assume it's also more common with other businesses. It helps to keep our health insurance costs lower while still allowing us more choice and flexibility than an HMO would give us. It encourages us to think about spending our health-care dollars wisely, as Paul noted, and also to take care of ourselves. Routine "preventive" care - an annual physical, "well" check-ups for children - are provided at no cost. Why should that be "a political impossibility?" I'll speculate on that in the next comment.
From what I've read the HD/HSA plans would not be allowed under the plans currently proposed in Congress because no plans would be allowed which might require such a great out-of-pocket expense. Are you kidding me??!! We can't be trusted to make such a choice for ourselves? Are the American people so helpless and dependent that we must have the government rescue us from any unfortunate health situation? (And the plans are not being without insurance. They simply require a certain amount out-of-pocket before the plan begins to pick up the cost.) I don't think we're that helpless. Yet. I think those in charge in Washington are trying to create such a large class of dependent people, though, that they think they won't ever be voted out of office. They are threatened by people who want to take care of themselves.
I'm not saying there are no situations where people need help with getting and paying for health care. I'm not saying the current system doesn't need fixing. I just don't see why these plans have to be killed. Why must the government dictate every aspect of our health care provisions? Will they next be telling us we can't choose a high deductible for our auto insurance or our homeowner's insurance?
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