Monday, May 10, 2004
Health Savings Accounts now available in Kansas
[Phyllis Jacobs Griekspoor, "New health insurance plan on tap for Kansans," The Wichita Eagle, 9 May 2004.]
Kansans now have greater consumer choice when it comes to health insurance as Health Savings Accounts are now available and may soon become much more widespread. These tools not only encourage saving and better management of health care spending, but they may also make insurance more affordable, and therefore more likely to be within the reach of some of the uninsured:
A new option for paying for health care is emerging around the country.
Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, coupled with high-deductible health insurance policies, are expected to be rolled out soon by major insurance carriers in Kansas.
Their arrival has been delayed by a legal "glitch" that requires a change in Kansas law, advocates of the new product said.
But the Legislature has passed a bill to fix that, and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to decide this week whether to sign it.
In the meantime, HSA products have already arrived in Wichita. Providers cannot legally offer them as a package deal with insurance, but people who already have high-deductible insurance policies can legally establish them.
That was enough to encourage Terry Goodnight and her husband, Alan, to start their company, DirectCare, which sets up and manages HSAs.
DirectCare does not offer insurance policies but will help people find a high-deductible policy.
"This is absolutely one of the most fantastic options ever to be offered from a consumer standpoint," said Jim Jasnoski, owner of Design Benefits, a Wichita health insurance sales company employing more than 300 agents in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Like DirectCare, Design Benefits is now offering only savings account management.
But Jasnoski said he believes Sebelius will sign the bill authorizing the sale of insurance policies in Kansas that include HSAs.
"It's a no-brainer. It's good for all of Kansas, especially the uninsured," Jasnoski said.
[See Matthew Hisrich, "Greatest increase in uninsured found among wealthy," The Flint Hills Center, Policy Brief, May 2004.]
[Phyllis Jacobs Griekspoor, "New health insurance plan on tap for Kansans," The Wichita Eagle, 9 May 2004.]
Kansans now have greater consumer choice when it comes to health insurance as Health Savings Accounts are now available and may soon become much more widespread. These tools not only encourage saving and better management of health care spending, but they may also make insurance more affordable, and therefore more likely to be within the reach of some of the uninsured:
A new option for paying for health care is emerging around the country.
Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, coupled with high-deductible health insurance policies, are expected to be rolled out soon by major insurance carriers in Kansas.
Their arrival has been delayed by a legal "glitch" that requires a change in Kansas law, advocates of the new product said.
But the Legislature has passed a bill to fix that, and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to decide this week whether to sign it.
In the meantime, HSA products have already arrived in Wichita. Providers cannot legally offer them as a package deal with insurance, but people who already have high-deductible insurance policies can legally establish them.
That was enough to encourage Terry Goodnight and her husband, Alan, to start their company, DirectCare, which sets up and manages HSAs.
DirectCare does not offer insurance policies but will help people find a high-deductible policy.
"This is absolutely one of the most fantastic options ever to be offered from a consumer standpoint," said Jim Jasnoski, owner of Design Benefits, a Wichita health insurance sales company employing more than 300 agents in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
Like DirectCare, Design Benefits is now offering only savings account management.
But Jasnoski said he believes Sebelius will sign the bill authorizing the sale of insurance policies in Kansas that include HSAs.
"It's a no-brainer. It's good for all of Kansas, especially the uninsured," Jasnoski said.
[See Matthew Hisrich, "Greatest increase in uninsured found among wealthy," The Flint Hills Center, Policy Brief, May 2004.]
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