Monday, November 22, 2004
Blue Cross: HSAs available in all U.S. states by 2006
[Keith Snider, "Blue Cross insurers offer health-savings accounts," Bloomberg News, The Oakland Tribune, 18 November 2004.]
It looks like the big insurers are committing to HSAs:
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, whose health plans cover one in three Americans, said health-savings accounts that companies are relying on to help cut medical costs will be available in all U.S. states by 2006.
Blue Cross insurers offer health plans similar to the new accounts in 39 states now, the association said in a statement. Health-savings accounts allow people to set aside money tax free to pay for medical expenses and are paired with high-deductible coverage for major costs such as surgery.
Participation by Blue Cross companies may be crucial to the future of the tax-free accounts, created in a Medicare law that President George Bush signed last year and touted during his re-election campaign. Blue Cross plans cover about 91 million Americans and include member companies such as Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana said 53,000 people had enrolled in its health-savings account as of Sept. 30.
In the Northwest, the Regence Group is trying to sell the accounts to employers such as WSA, a coalition of 1,100 small technology companies. Regence sells Blue plans in Washington, Utah, Oregon and Idaho.
"These accounts offer a great opportunity for small businesses to offer affordable health care to their employees," Maureen Mortaloni, chief financial officer of WSA, formerly known as the Washington Software Alliance, said in a statement.
[Matthew Hisrich, "HSAs Are Increasing Americans' Health Coverage," The Topeka Capital-Journal, 26 September 2004.]
[Keith Snider, "Blue Cross insurers offer health-savings accounts," Bloomberg News, The Oakland Tribune, 18 November 2004.]
It looks like the big insurers are committing to HSAs:
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, whose health plans cover one in three Americans, said health-savings accounts that companies are relying on to help cut medical costs will be available in all U.S. states by 2006.
Blue Cross insurers offer health plans similar to the new accounts in 39 states now, the association said in a statement. Health-savings accounts allow people to set aside money tax free to pay for medical expenses and are paired with high-deductible coverage for major costs such as surgery.
Participation by Blue Cross companies may be crucial to the future of the tax-free accounts, created in a Medicare law that President George Bush signed last year and touted during his re-election campaign. Blue Cross plans cover about 91 million Americans and include member companies such as Anthem Inc. and WellPoint Health Networks Inc.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana said 53,000 people had enrolled in its health-savings account as of Sept. 30.
In the Northwest, the Regence Group is trying to sell the accounts to employers such as WSA, a coalition of 1,100 small technology companies. Regence sells Blue plans in Washington, Utah, Oregon and Idaho.
"These accounts offer a great opportunity for small businesses to offer affordable health care to their employees," Maureen Mortaloni, chief financial officer of WSA, formerly known as the Washington Software Alliance, said in a statement.
[Matthew Hisrich, "HSAs Are Increasing Americans' Health Coverage," The Topeka Capital-Journal, 26 September 2004.]
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