But, I'm sure Democrats will continue to oppose HSAs since President Bush supports them.

Bingo!!!

They're the culture of obstructionism...

I like Mitt Romney's health care plan. Peace

I've never known a Democrat to support anything that helped the American people. Or progress for that matter.

They are the anti-Progressives, when you think about it.

If that's the case, then these Democrats should really have "metanoia" and check if they are still helping in building this nation. If they are not anymore concerned of the greater good, then I don't see any reason why they should be 'heard.'

I had some sort of health plan a few years ago whereby a set amount of money I specified was deducted from each paycheck and earmarked for health care expenditures. I think that the amount was set aside without being taxed. I found that at the end of the year, if I forfeited any money in the account that had not been spent. Needless to say I was very angry. I hope these health savings accounts are something different. Anyone know what the program was that I was in a few years ago?

The only problem I have with HSAs is that, while encouraging people not to visit the doctor for little things, they also encourage people not to visit the doctor for big things.

For instance, take your typical old man that fears going to the hospital until things are dire. They probably could have gotten away with a $1000 or less procedure (such as a valve stent) but they waited long enough to require a $200,000 bypass.

For your average American, seeing this money and having control over it will probably make them less apt to spend it. I.e. I have a 'cold', I don't want to spend $100 out of my own pocket, so I wait, it gets a little worse, and a little more worse. I go to the doctor finally and he orders blood work. Well, I don't want to spend $300, so I take some pills and wait a little longer. Finally, it turns out that I go in for the blood work and learn that my lung has a serious strep infection and I need 50,000 in super antibiotics because I'm at a critical tipping point.

This is not a liberal vs. conservative issue, it is all about whether or not we trust people to make their own decisions about health care.

I do have a health savings account and I'm still not sure it will ultimately be cheaper. My health savings account started out at $90 a month in 2003 and is now $160 a month (for the $5000 deductible). In that time I've visited the doctor about 3 times for antibiotics.

Anthony,

The plan you were in is usually referred to as the "Flex Plan". You should have been told that allocated money for expenses not incurred by the end of the calendar year would be lost. Perhaps if you reread some of the information packet this would be clearly stated. It is sometimes misunderstood, but with my experience, HR departments do a very good job of conveying all aspects of any plan they present to their employees.

That being said, the newer Health Saving Accounts are not the same thing. With this plan you do NOT lose any money you put into your account.

Many companies are becoming creative with regard to health insurance and health cost. My company for one is contributing money to a company designated account to handle certain employee health related expenses, in essence, becoming a mini health insurer themselves. Along with covering some of the everyday expenses they also encourage “preventative” and “special programs” health treatment. These include things such as smoke cessations programs. The company found that they could reduce health insurance expenses for everyone and offer employees a greater range of health cost benefits at the same time, a win / win situation.

The HSA is a step in the right direction. It seems that the best thing the government can do is provide incentives and opportunities for employers and employees to handle their own health cost. What would be a BIG mistake is for the government to force companies or employees into any program controlling their choices and expenses.

President Bush inadvertently underscored the weakness of the Republican agenda when he flew to Bridgeport, Conn., on Wednesday to campaign for his health savings accounts, known as HSAs. Virtually no one other than the president oh, and perhaps a few ideologues and insurance companies sees HSAs as anything approaching a comprehensive solution to the nation's growing health-care problem.

Senate Republicans have already dropped HSAs from their budget, and Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the Finance Committee chairman, has been openly skeptical about doing anything on HSAs this year. The president was thus campaigning for a doomed idea in Connecticut when, just over the border in Massachusetts, a bipartisan majority in the legislature was passing a visionary plan requiring all residents to buy health insurance and providing subsidies for those who can't afford the full freight. The contrast between the policy energy that exists in many states and the intellectual torpor in Washington could not have been more stark.

I believe that HSA's are there for the benefit of those who can hardly acquire a health insurance. It is generally up to the insured how he is going to use such benefit. I don't see how HSA's encourage people not to go for doctors for big things. As I said, HSA's provide opportunities. It's up to the person involved how he would avail of such opportunity.