With the debate raging over health care reform, there is little give and take on both sides of the issue. Those for a strong single payer or government insurance option are pitted against those who want the free market and private insurance companies to compete with little government interference. There is a topic where both sides may be able to find a compromise. Health Savings Accounts, also known as HSA's, are looked at favorably by most Americans. With a little bit of tweaking there may be a place to use these to offset many of our contentions. Let's take a look at a method worth considering.

First, let us assume that we are going to need to get radical transformation on our current health care system done. Also, let us assume that we can get a public option which would cover catastrophic medical emergencies for every American citizen. This would appease the left leaning government proponents. Now before the right side begins crying foul, we can also give their methods a part. In particular, we can have a mandated has for every American. We could require this as a payroll deduction itemized on all tax forms. However, it is not just another tax. This money can be used specifically for each person to get regular medical care not covered by the catastrophic protection. There can be a minimum and a cap established for each of these based on a person's age and area. It would likely require a consensus of actuarial accounting to come up with a national number. Once a person has given enough then the deduction would be abolished for that year.

This would serve as money in an account for that specific person. It would not be a pool as used by Medicare. If there is a need to go above what a person has in the account, then the government or private institutions could be solicited as lenders with the account as collateral for moderate interest loans. For those who could not afford to fund theirs, then there would need to be a government subsidy to supply. This would not be unlike what we have today with insurance rates climbing though to pay off uninsured who use medical services. Rates for insurance would be lowered and the absorbed savings would be able to fund this program.




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