HSA's and Liberal Religion

Why can't liberals and Democrats be more open minded? They hated MSA's and oppose HSA's now. They claim that HSA's will suck healthy and young people out of the group market, thereby increasing costs to those who remain. http://www.cbpp.org/5-10-04health.htm Further, they claim that people with HSA's will not seek health care since it means spending their money. They claim that HSA's are "for the wealthy." http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0809b.html see also http://www.democrats.org/specialreports/healthcare_savings/

All of the criticisms seem reasonable in theory.

The problem is they are wrong. In fact, a significant portion of people who have applied for HSA's did not previously have insurance and about a quarter are low income. Moreover, many are over 40 years old.

Assurant (formerly Fortis) has reviewed its data of its roughly 44,000 HSA applicants since January 1, 2004, and has found that 42% were previously uninsured, 27% of HSA purchasers have a net worth of less than $25,000, while over 70% of HSA purchasers are over age 40. Interestingly, only 30% of HSA purchasers are registered Republicans.

eHealthInsurance found that 56% of its HSA policies sold to those with incomes of less than $15,000 a year were uninsured, and that 33% of its total HSA policies sold, were to those who were previously uninsured. http://www.hsainsider.com/single_release.asp?number=29


This information is not from some study, but from the companies actually selling these policies -- this is pure hard data. Nevertheless, one can still hear the same theoretical arguments against HSA's from the Left. Look, if the unadulterated -- not from Brookings, CATO nor AEI -- facts prove your theory wrong, you must change your theory. Of course, Liberals beleive they have access to the revealed truth of their Lord, Government, therefore nothing good can come from a freer market.

Facts be damned!