September 25, 2007
NO HAIR, SO NOT HEIR:
Indiana gets OK for novel health plan (Daniel C. Vock, 9/26/07, Stateline.org)
In a novel plan, low-income adults in Indiana who can’t afford health insurance will be able to tap into as much as $300,000 in coverage by contributing to health savings accounts.The plan, which won federal approval last week, will make Indiana the 13th state to cover childless adults under Medicaid, a federal-state program created in 1965 primarily to cover families and the elderly, blind and disabled. Even more unique is the plan’s requirement that poor applicants pay into a health savings account before getting access to taxpayer-funded medical care. [...]
Advocates for the poor are critical of Indiana’s attempt to use health savings accounts to put Medicaid patients in control of their own medical spending.
Because Welfare should make the poor dependents of the State, not give them control of their lives. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 25, 2007 7:10 AM
If, as you repeatedly say, poverty in America is volitional; then we can hardly expect that, given the opportunity, the poor will control their own lives.
Posted by: Brandon at September 25, 2007 11:20 AMWhich is why you don't give them a choice.
Posted by: oj at September 25, 2007 2:45 PMIf you don't give them choice, in what sense are they more in "control of their lives"?
Posted by: Brandon at September 25, 2007 2:53 PMBecause they're forced to exercise control of the benefit rather than have its exercise dictated to them.
Posted by: oj at September 25, 2007 3:51 PMEnrollees must pay 2 percent to 5 percent of their income, or $45 for the poorest eligible single adult making $2,246 annually. Each recipient then will be given a health savings account of up to $1,100 for medical expenses. Once their accounts are empty, participants get traditional health insurance, with a $300,000 yearly limit. Participants also get $500 in free preventative services.
I just don't see how this is much different from traditional insurance.
Posted by: Brandon at September 25, 2007 3:56 PMDo you eat the same number of donuts when they're free at work and when you have to pay for them yourself?
Posted by: oj at September 25, 2007 6:05 PMAs a matter of fact, I do.
But they don't have to pay for them. Once they use up their $1100 account, they go to the regular insurance. I don't see a difference. It doesn't say they get to keep any of the $1100 that they don't use.
Posted by: Brandon at September 25, 2007 9:21 PMThat's why it's called a savings account.
Posted by: oj at September 26, 2007 7:37 AM