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TO: U.S. Elected Official

Dear Elected Official:

I am writing to you to seek an amendment to House Bill 526 to expand the availability of tax free medical savings accounts combined with high-deductible health insurance plans (MSA plans).

In 1996, Congress created a demonstration project permitting small employers and self-employed persons to establish Medical Savings Accounts. It was well received but is not as universally available as it should be and could use some improvements. MSA's offer a flexible option which may allow better coverage by allowing patients the option to select their own medical professionals and hospitals, as opposed to a pre-selected plan currently used by HMO's and PPO's whereby only certain health care professionals and facilities are approved to provide patient coverage. MSA's have the potential to provide enhanced health care options to its participants.

First, both employers and employees should be allowed to contribute to an MSA without the contribution level being capped. Such limits are not imposed on traditional insurance plans.

Second, MSA plans should also provide some incentive to attract large companies who have plans with larger, established insurance companies. Leaving smaller insurance companies to provide MSA plans is detrimental to the plan itself as these insurance companies have less market presence, which adversely impacts public awareness, and it restricts the program to the hardest-to-serve market segment with the most limited resources, which is riskier for both the insurers and, ultimately, the insureds.

During the past decade the level of coverage provided by health insurance plans has drastically declined while premiums and deductibles have steadily increased. Some employers may believe that HMO's are a satisfactory solution to health care needs. I believe that providing MSA tax and participation incentives to employers and employees to implement an alternative plan would cater to the health care needs of a large number of currently unsatisfied and underserved people. I want my family and myself to have the best medical care coverage available and MSA plans have the potential to provide optimal health care coverage.

Please acknowledge this message, and kindly let me know your position on this very important issue. This matter is extremely important to me and to many of your constituents. our position on this matter.

My personal message to you is:

Sincerely,

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