| It is hard to turn on the nightly news without | | | | they receive without ever getting an opportunity |
| hearing more and more of the increasingly | | | | to negotiate the price, look for competitive pricing |
| ubiquitous healthcare debate. With one side | | | | elsewhere, or decline a service due to the price. |
| pushing for government-funded healthcare for all | | | | In turn, hospitals and doctors have little pressure |
| and another side urging lawmakers to look for | | | | to reduce their rates in order to stay competitive |
| more affordable healthcare solutions, it can be | | | | in the healthcare marketplace. Moreover, when |
| tough to determine which healthcare reforms | | | | insurance plans cover the cost of a service, |
| would best for the nation. However, just about | | | | patients rarely get involved with the process of |
| everyone agrees that the current healthcare | | | | finding the most affordable provider or solution. |
| situation does require reform - and reform | | | | However, when individuals have a Health Savings |
| programs that are not only affordable, but also | | | | Account, they pay for their healthcare services |
| uphold the quality of the healthcare system | | | | directly, ensuring that they are aware of the |
| across the country. | | | | prices for selected services that they have |
| Health Savings Accounts are viable healthcare | | | | received. As the consumer becomes closely |
| solutions that help to relieve the income tax | | | | involved with paying for his or her healthcare |
| burden for participants while allowing them to | | | | services, the consumer is in a better position to |
| have a vehicle for saving money exclusively to | | | | look for competitive rates and options that can |
| cover the cost of their healthcare. But before | | | | lower his or her costs. |
| anyone rushes to conclusions about what current | | | | Essentially, with Health Savings Accounts, |
| healthcare solutions should be further developed | | | | consumers compare prices and quality of |
| or promoted, it is important to understand what is | | | | services, which, in turn, compels doctors, clinics, |
| flawed with the current healthcare system and | | | | pharmacies, and all healthcare providers to |
| proposals. | | | | improve their services, decrease their prices, and |
| Problems with the current healthcare system: | | | | offer better solutions than the competition. |
| The current healthcare system is riddled with two | | | | Competition is at the heart of a free market |
| major flaws: runaway inflation and lack of suitable | | | | economy, such as the American economy, and |
| coverage for individuals with pre-existing health | | | | helps to keep businesses constantly striving to |
| conditions. While inflation may be difficult to control | | | | improve their services, products, and affordability. |
| on a large scale, something surely needs to be | | | | Personal responsibility |
| done about the general tendency of health | | | | The second key for a better system requires the |
| insurance providers to deny coverage to | | | | system to encourage each consumer to have |
| individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. | | | | personal responsibility when it comes to finances |
| These two problems are especially difficult to | | | | and decisions about their personal health. Most |
| surmount for self-employed Americans and | | | | Americans would agree that they should not have |
| Americans working for small businesses. | | | | to pay for another person's medical expenses - |
| Approximately 16 percent of all employed | | | | especially if those medical expenses are a result |
| Americans are self-employed and 28 percent | | | | of poor lifestyle choices. |
| work for small businesses. Self employed | | | | However, with the current system and set of |
| individuals and individuals working for small | | | | healthcare reform proposals, every American |
| businesses are often hard-pressed to find | | | | shares the burden of paying for the healthcare |
| affordable healthcare plans that will provide | | | | for every other American - regardless of an |
| suitable coverage for their healthcare needs while | | | | individual's own use of the healthcare system. As |
| still meeting their budgetary restrictions. | | | | any kindergartner might put it: that's just not fair. |
| The current healthcare reform proposals have a | | | | Americans should, instead, be encouraged to have |
| solution for the uninsurability issue: make all | | | | personal responsibility over their health and |
| healthcare plans "guaranteed issue" regardless of | | | | finances. |
| an applicant's preexisting conditions. With such a | | | | With a Health Savings Account, Americans are |
| plan, any applicant would be able to get healthcare | | | | rewarded for having personal responsibility by |
| coverage. However, as a result of these more | | | | being able to take advantage of a tax deduction |
| liberal healthcare membership plans, Americans | | | | that is equal to the amount of money they set |
| would likely see rising healthcare and premium | | | | aside in their health savings accounts to pay for |
| costs across the board. Simply put: there's got to | | | | medical expenses. By saving money for one's |
| be a better solution for affordable healthcare for | | | | own medical expenses, individuals will reduce their |
| all. | | | | burden to society and be financially responsible |
| Keys for a better healthcare system: | | | | community members. Moreover, when individuals |
| Transparency | | | | know that they are responsible for the cost of |
| There are a couple of requirements for a better | | | | their own healthcare, they are more likely to |
| healthcare system that can help to ensure that | | | | make wise decisions that will improve their health; |
| plans are more affordable for the masses and | | | | not detract from it. |
| that coverage maintains a level of quality for all | | | | Americans will inevitably see many changes |
| recipients. The first of these two keys is | | | | coming about in the healthcare system over the |
| transparency. | | | | coming years as the current Presidential |
| Many Americans receive healthcare services | | | | administration works closely with Congress to |
| without ever knowing what the cost of those | | | | reform the system. By recognizing the efficacy |
| services are. This is because hospitals and doctors | | | | and far-reaching potential of investing in Health |
| very rarely publish the prices for the services | | | | Savings Accounts now, Americans can begin to |
| they offer and many Americans rely on their | | | | develop financial autonomy that will allow them to |
| insurance policies to cover the costs. Without | | | | make better decisions about their healthcare |
| published prices, patients (or insurance companies) | | | | years down the road - regardless of what |
| are often required to pay the cost of a service | | | | healthcare reform plan the nation adopts. |