[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WHAT IS THREATENING ABOUT MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS?

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, taking power and influence out 
of the hands of bureaucrats in Washington and returning it to the 
America people is something the American people want and that the 
Congress is trying to provide.
  Medical savings accounts, MSA's, are one way to return power and 
influence over health insurance to individuals.
  With an MSA, you do not need anyone's permission to spend money on 
health care. It is your money to spend or save as you see fit.
  With an MSA, you do not have to worry about losing your health care 
insurance if you switch jobs or lose your job--your MSA is yours and it 
goes with you. That is true portability.
  With an MSA, you do not have to worry about the potential for ruinous 
out-of-pocket costs. Out-of-pocket costs are limited to the amount of 
the deductible; and catastrophic insurance kicks in with full coverage 
after that.
  With an MSA, the power and influence over health care spending is in 
the hands of the individual Americans who choose to have an MSA to pay 
for their health care.
  Why is this power and influence for individuals so threatening?
  One person should not deny millions of Americans reform, including 
MSA's, that will make health insurance more portable and affordable.

                          ____________________