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Skriven 2006-02-13 23:43:04 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0602137) for Mon, 2006 Feb 13
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Setting the Record Straight: The Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby on
Health Savings Accounts
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For Immediate Release
February 13, 2006

Setting the Record Straight: The Washington Post's Sebastian Mallaby on
Health Savings Accounts


ÿÿÿÿÿSetting the Record Straight


Setting The Record Straight On The Benefits Of Health Savings Accounts
(HSAs).

Mallaby Claims That HSAs Are For "Rich People" And "Healthy People." "The
administration is proposing a new kind of 401(k), and using it as an
inducement to quit low-deductible insurance. Rich people, who gain most
from the tax breaks on saving, will be first to sign on; healthy people,
who subsidize sicker people in company health plans, will be right behind
them." (Sebastian Mallaby, Op-Ed, "Ownership Society Redux," The Washington
Post, 2/13/06)

But Studies Have Shown That HSAs Have Broad Appeal.
  þ 

    Enrollment In HSAs Has Tripled Since March 2005. " At least three
    million consumers currently receive health coverage through
    high-deductible health insurance plans offered in conjunction with
    health saving accounts (HSAs), according to preliminary results of a
    new study by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). According to the
    study, enrollment in the new insurance policies eligible for HSAs has
    roughly tripled since last March when a similar AHIP survey found that
    1,031,000 people were covered by HSA-compatible insurance policies."
    (America's Health Insurance Plans, "HSAs Triple in 10 Months," Press
    Release, 1/26/06)
  þ 

    Studies Show That Low-Income And Previously Uninsured Americans Are
    Signing Up For HSAs." These lower-premium plans are an important
    option, especially for those who might not otherwise be able to afford
    coverage, Ignagni said, noting that among the companies tracking the
    information, previously uninsured people purchased 37% of the
    individual policies. Twenty-seven percent of the policies in the small
    group market have been sold to employers who did not previously offer
    coverage to their employees. Shattering the myth that these new
    products only attract young and healthy individuals, the census
    indicates that nearly half of people covered by HSA-eligible insurance
    are over the age of 40." (America's Health Insurance Plans, "HSAs More
    Than Double In Six Months, New AHIP Study Shows," Press Release,
    5/4/05)
  þ 

    Survey Finds More Previously Uninsured Americans Enrolled In HSA
    Programs Than Traditional Health Plans. "The survey found that
    HSA-eligible enrollees are of all ages and of no different health
    status than people enrolled in traditional coverage. 'This survey
    finding dispels the myth that HSAs are only for the young and healthy,'
    said Sullivan. 'In addition, we are also bolstered by the finding that
    the number of previously uninsured currently enrolled in a HSA-eligible
    product is double that of enrollees in traditional insurance products
    (12 percent to 6 percent).'" (Blue Cross And Blue Shield, "BCBSA
    Consumer Survey Shows High Rate Of Satisfaction With HSAs," Press
    Release, 9/28/05)
  þ 

    Nearly Half Of HSA Enrollees Are At Least 40 Years Old. "Other key
    findings of the report on HSA-eligible health plan purchasers include:
    Nearly half are at least 40 years old; More than one-third are families
    with children; 40 percent have incomes under $50,000 a year; One-third
    were previously uninsured; and Of those in the $15,000 to $35,000
    income bracket, there was a 161 percent increase of previously
    uninsured purchasers during all of 2004 compared to the first six
    months of the year." (eHealthInsurance, "Prescription Drug Benefits
    Included In 99.4% Of HSA Health Plans," Press Release, 2/15/05)
  þ 

    The President Proposes Extra Financial Help For The Poor And The Sick.
    "A family of four making $25,000 or less will be able to get a
    refundable tax credit of $3,000 from the Federal government to help buy
    an HSA-compatible policy that covers them for major medical expenses.
    These families will have the flexibility to put up to $1,000 of the
    money directly into an HSA to pay for routine medical expenses. What
    the family does not spend can be saved in the account and carried over
    to the next year, earning interest tax-free." (The White House, "State
    Of The Union: Affordable And Accessible Health Care," Press Release,
    1/31/06)
  þ 

    The President's Budget Proposes Allowing Employers To Contribute More
    To The HSAs Of Chronically-Ill Employees Or Their Dependents. "The 2007
    Budget proposes to change 'comparability' rules to allow employers to
    contribute additional amounts to the HSAs of chronically-ill employees
    or their dependents." (Office Of Management And Budget, "Health," Press
    Release, 2/6/06)

Mallaby Claims That HSA High-Deductible Insurance Policies Do Not Provide
Comprehensive Care. "In practice, probably less than half of all health
spending outside Medicaid and Medicare would be affected by the new
consumer-driven discipline. Many hospital stays cost more than any
deductible, so consumers would have no incentive to bargain; emergency-room
patients aren't in a fit state to negotiate prices with their doctors."
(Sebastian Mallaby, Op-Ed, "Ownership Society Redux," The Washington Post,
2/13/06)

But Studies Have Shown That HSAs Provide Comprehensive Care At Lower
Premiums.
  þ 

    HSA Plans Provide Comprehensive Care At Reasonable Prices. "Premiums
    for health insurance plans sold to individuals and families as part of
    a Health Savings Account (HSA) program dropped an average of $29 per
    month, according to a semi-annual report released today by
    eHealthInsurance, the nation's leading source of health insurance for
    individuals and families." (eHealthInsurance, "Consumers Paying An
    Average Of $348 Less This Year For HSA-Eligible Health Insurance Plans
    Compared To 2004," Press Release, 7/27/05)
  þ 

    HSA Plans Include Coverage For Prescription Drugs, Hospitalization, And
    Visits To The Doctor's Office. "In 2005, HSA-eligible health insurance
    plans continue to provide many of the benefits expected in
    comprehensive health insurance plans. For example, nearly 80% of the
    plans purchased had prescription drug coverage and more than 80% of the
    HSA-eligible plans purchased had comprehensive OB/GYN coverage at no
    cost to the plan holder. Also, all of the plans include emergency room,
    hospitalization and lab/X-ray services." (eHealthInsurance, "Consumers
    Paying An Average Of $348 Less This Year For HSA-Eligible Health
    Insurance Plans Compared To 2004," Press Release, 7/27/05)
  þ 

    Many HSA Plans Will Provide Plenty Of Reason To Find Bargains On Health
    Care. Many HSA plans do not pay 100 percent after the deductible is
    met, charging typically 20 percent coinsurance until an out-of-pocket
    maximum is met. This definitely keeps the consumer engaged until their
    maximum is met. For example, under the Federal employees plans, one
    family plan has a $5,000 deductible but an $8,000 out-of-pocket
    maximum. This means the family is paying something on the first $20,000
    of their care. The President's new proposals would help families pay
    for these expenses through their HSA. (FEHB handbook, available online
    http://www.opm.gov/insure/handbook/fehb00.asp)

Mallaby Says Americans Would Be Better Off In Traditional Corporate Health
Plans. "And health savings accounts pose a more formidable threat to
traditional corporate health plans than personal accounts posed to Social
Security. Market forces are already dislodging company health plans; an
extra shove could cause an avalanche." (Sebastian Mallaby, Op-Ed,
"Ownership Society Redux," The Washington Post, 2/13/06)

But Studies Provide No Evidence That Employers Are Dropping Coverage.
  þ 

    HSAs Make Coverage More Affordable For Business. "The cost of health
    plans that encourage members to be better health care consumers grew at
    a significantly slower rate in 2005 than other types of plans, U.S.
    employers reported in a survey released today by the Deloitte Center
    for Health Solutions. The cost of consumer-driven health plans _ such
    as health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements _
    increased by an average of 2.8 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to
    the survey of 152 major U.S. employers. That compares to an 8 percent
    increase in total premiums for health maintenance organizations, an 8.5
    percent increase for point-of-service plans and a 7.2 percent increase
    for preferred provider organizations. Traditional or indemnity plan
    costs increased 6.4 percent last year, according to the survey. The
    average for all types of plans was 7.3 percent." (Deloitte Services LP,
    "Survey: Consumer-Driven Health Plan Cost Growth Significantly Slower
    Than Other Plans," Press Release, 1/24/06)
  þ 

    HSAs Are Part Of A Health Care System In Which Patients Are In Control.
    THE PRESIDENT: "An interesting product available is called health
    savings accounts. I strongly urge small business owner[s] here to look
    at them. It's an innovative product that enables the small business
    owner and the employee to combine, to work together to come up with a
    plan where the employee owns it. It provides for a high deductible
    catastrophic plan, coupled with tax-free contributions in the plan,
    basically gives the consumer control over his or her medical decisions.
    The plan can grow tax-free, which is an encouragement for people to
    make wise decisions about how they treat their body. If you have a
    catastrophic event, the insurance kicks in and covers it. It's
    portable. If you change jobs, you can take it with you. It's an
    interesting idea. It certainly stands in stark contrast with a system
    in which the federal government gets to make the consumers decisions,
    or tells the providers what they can charge. It's the opposite of
    federal control. It is patient control." (President Bush, Remarks On
    Small Business, Sterling, VA, 1/19/06)


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