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Health Policy Center AuthorsPublications by Leonard E. Burman for Health Policy Center Back to Browse by Author More about Leonard E. Burman's areas of expertise can be found on this Urban Institute expert's page.
Most Households' Medical Expenses Exceed HSA Deductibles (Article/Tax Facts) Linda J. Blumberg, Leonard E. Burman The 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill created Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), tax-free savings accounts for people who are covered by a "high-deductible health insurance plan," either purchased directly or on their behalf by an employer. The qualifying health insurance plan must have a deductible of at least $1,000 for single coverage and $2,000 for family coverage. Some preventative care may be covered by insurance, but all elective procedures and medicine is subject to the deductibles.
HSAs Won't Cure Medicare's Ills (Opinion) Leonard E. Burman, Linda J. Blumberg Here's one message from the new "bipartisan" Medicare bill currently being debated in Congress: Low-income elderly people are having a hard time paying for their prescription drugs, so we need... another tax cut for rich people! Today's tax cut for rich people--health savings accounts (HSA)--has been all but lost in the debate about the proposed new Medicare prescription drug benefit, but this wolf in sheep's clothing shouldn't be overlooked. It is bad tax policy and bad health policy.
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