BUSINESSBlues pledge nationwide expansion of HSAsMost Blues patients in most states will have access to health savings accounts by the end of 2005.By Robert Kazel, amednews staff. Dec. 13, 2004. The BlueCross BlueShield Assn., arguing the nation's health insurance problems can be alleviated by giving patients increased control over the care they choose, said in November that its member plans would offer a variety of PPO products tied to health savings accounts in virtually every state by 2006. The announcement, seen by the AMA and other HSA supporters as a vote of confidence, was one of several recent decisions by large insurers either to introduce or expand the availability of HSA-connected, high-deductible products. Under federal law, insurers have been able to offer these products to members since January. Only a small minority have enrolled to date. Twenty-three out of the Blues association's 41 plans, covering about three-fifths of the United States, have started selling products compatible with the new savings accounts. The plans will be available from 39 Blues plans by the first quarter of 2006, located in 49 states and the District of Columbia, said Alissa Fox, executive director of policy of the Chicago-based Blues association. The products tied to health savings accounts, on average, will cost patients about 15% to 20% less when compared with the premiums they would pay for traditional PPO coverage, she said. Health savings accounts, approved by Congress in 2004 with the support and advocacy of the AMA, involve a high-deductible health insurance plan, offered by a private payer, that can be used for catastrophic coverage, and permits patients to remove funds for a wide range of routine medical care from a special account. [...]Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2004 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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