and preserve health coverage choices The new health care law threatens Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and a variety of innovative and affordable health insurance options. Small business owners, entrepreneurs and the self-employed must organize and speak out to protect HSAs and other health coverage choices. Protect HSAs! SBE Council led the business coalition that worked for the enactment of health savings accounts (HSAs). In fact, from our founding more than 16 years ago, SBE Council worked hard to establish a medical savings account (MSA) pilot program where we used the successful results to extend MSAs and then push for enactment of universal HSAs. HSAs cover more than 10 million people in the United States: • 2.97 million people are covered in the small group market • 2.053 million are covered in the individual market. • Over the past three years, the small group market has registered a 181% increase. • American families have $8.4 billion in HSAs to use for their current and future health care needs (2010 Consumer Health Savings Update) A growing number of small business owners, their workforce and self-employed Americans depend on HSAs for health coverage. For many, an HSA coupled with a high deductible insurance plan (HDHP) is the only option for affordable/flexible coverage. (To read the latest census numbers on HSAs reported by America's Health Insurance Plans, please visit: http://www.ahip.org/content/pressrelease.aspx?docid=30516) The new health care law recently signed by President Obama starts to chip away at the value and benefits associated with HSAs. • Chipping away at HSAs: Starting in 2011, over-the-counter drugs and other preventative care purchases will be excluded from the list of items that consumers can purchase using HSA dollars. • Hasty and intrusive regulation threatens HSA viability: SBE Council is very concerned that new regulations being developed to implement the health care law will be written in a way that deters the adoption and utility of HSAs. NEW: Read the latest House Republican Conference Policy Brief "ObamaCare and HSAs: Issues of Concern" by clicking here.
Please help SBE Council with its advocacy and education efforts to Protect HSAs and preserve innovative health care choices! First, PLEASE contribute to SBE Council by clicking here. Next, join our Small Business News email list. SBE Council will update you each week on what we are doing to protect your HSA, as well as ensuring that this effective and affordable option remains available for every small business owner and individual that wants one. Sign up for Small Business News by clicking here. Action and Information Center |
