Comments on: Insureds With HSAs Dropping Meds http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/07/11/insureds-with-hsas-dropping-meds/ Research and discussion of the Colorado health insurance industry and the healthcare crisis in America. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:19:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Brian T. Schwartz http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/2008/07/11/insureds-with-hsas-dropping-meds/comment-page-1/#comment-11061 Brian T. Schwartz Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:44:37 +0000 http://www.healthinsurancecolorado.net/blog1/?p=437#comment-11061 The only reason HSA-qualified plans are a political issue is that our tax code favors employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), but benefits unions and coddles insurance companies. Without this biased tax code, the whole HSA issue would be a moot point. People would buy insurance that's best for them, rather than insurance that's best for their employer. For some, it would have a high deductible, for others, it would not. It should not be a political issue. But since the tax code is biased, HSA-qualified plans are a step in the right direction in terms of partially removing the tax bias. Eliminating the ESI tax exemption is ideal, and "Large HSAs" are a second best method, while <a href="http://www.patientpowernow.org/2008/04/30/mccain-denver-health-insurance/" rel="nofollow">McCain's plan is convoluted</a>, but on the right track. The only reason HSA-qualified plans are a political issue is that our tax code favors employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), but benefits unions and coddles insurance companies. Without this biased tax code, the whole HSA issue would be a moot point. People would buy insurance that’s best for them, rather than insurance that’s best for their employer. For some, it would have a high deductible, for others, it would not. It should not be a political issue.

But since the tax code is biased, HSA-qualified plans are a step in the right direction in terms of partially removing the tax bias. Eliminating the ESI tax exemption is ideal, and “Large HSAs” are a second best method, while McCain’s plan is convoluted, but on the right track.

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