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April 19, 2006
Bush continues push to expand Health Savings Accounts
President Bush continues to urge Congress to pass legislation that would provide tax breaks to promote the expansion of health savings accounts and reduce health care costs. At the National Small Business Week Conference in Washington, D.C., Bush said that Congress should pass legislation that would make premiums for high-deductible health plans associated with HSAs deductible from income taxes and eliminate taxes on out-of-pocket spending through the accounts -- two proposals included in his fiscal year 2007 budget plan.
Bush said, "Congress needs to end discrimination in the tax code and give Americans who buy HSA plans on their own the same tax breaks that those who get their health insurance from their employers" receive, adding, "Small businesses can save money under this plan."
However, opponents maintain that the HSA proposals will not reduce health care costs. According to a Commonwealth Fund analysis, HSAs will make consumers more responsible for their health care costs but might not make them more effective purchasers of medical services.
It sounds like opponents are basing their decisions on sheer speculation. Unfotunately, it appears likely that Congress will not pass the HSA proposals this year.
If you are a health savings account owner, or are considering one in the near future, we urge you to write your congressperson and ask them to base their decision on the facts, not speculation or political bias.
Get the facts today at http://www.health--savings--accounts.com
Posted by Wiley Long at April 19, 2006 09:35 AM
Comments
What just amazes me is when people talk about government health insurance, the Republicans talk about “how the people in Canada come to the US for their operations.” Amoung my Canadian friends that statement is PURE BULL-HOCKEY!
When I am wintering in Arizona, the Canadians that winter in the same park that I do go HOME for their operations for anything serious, unless it is an emergency. And this is EVEN WHEN they have US health insurance!
The ONLY REASONS the Republican lie has lasted this long is…. MONEY from hospital,doctor and drug lobbies …and…
IN ANY POPULATION, SOME PEOPLE WILL GO ELSEWHERE FOR VIRTUALLY ANYTHING. Some people from Des Moines go to Ames for health care, and some people will go from Ames to Des Moines for health care. Does that mean Des Moines care is inferior???
Sorry, even with the HSA’s the playing field is very uneven when it comes to costs. You are ignorant, they are not.
Have you seen a price list for health proceedures??
And if you did see one, did you see it BEFORE you needed something done???
And finally, did you UNDERSTAND IT????
HSA’s are a smoke-screen. The Republicans are hoping that we will be duped (again)and not work towards a health care solution like is used in every industrialized country in the world. We in the US pay Cadillac prices for Chevy medical care.
I’m just glad my kids are raised. I don’t know how some families can afford health insurance. Remember, EVEN IF YOUR EMPLOYER PAYS YOUR PREMIUM, it is COMING OUT OF YOUR POCKET! Your employer is not dumb, they look at what you cost them TOTAL… wages, health insurance and other “free” benefits, unemployment taxes, 1/2 of SS taxes, etc, etc. If you’re getting $15/hr, your boss is looking at a cost of $20-$25/hr, maybe more.
The Republicans are applying band-aids to a system that needs radical surgery. Time to really examine a “Canadian” solution.
Posted by: George - Ames at April 21, 2006 11:28 PM