Code Red on health savings accounts

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Heads up, Americans. The Bush administration is now greasing the skids for employers to drop your health coverage. This is a biggie.

Radical change was not the headline when the president unfurled his latest proposals for health savings accounts. It was presented mainly as a sensible-sounding way for people without medical insurance to buy it with pre-tax dollars, the same way companies do.

George Bush's new HSA is actually a rocket-powered tax shelter dressed up as a sweet little program to help the uninsured. It would also undermine the traditional health coverage now offered by employers. (More on that in a minute.) And in case anyone still cares about deficits, it would cost the Treasury $156 billion in lost tax revenues over 10 years — more than wiping out any savings Bush hopes to achieve with his cuts in projected Medicare spending.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002797585_harrop12.html

[annabanana]

1. It's exhausting exposing all the damage they're doing

constantly... Exposing, fighting, on a hundred different fronts simultaneously. The saddest thing is knowing that the vast majority of Americans would be on the front lines with us if we had a real news media...

[Dr.Phool]

2. The chimp is trying to destroy the middle class. K&R

Every one of his policies harms the middle class, rewards the rich, and screws the rest. People can't afford health insurance now.

[acmejack]

3. A fine job of it he's doing too.

At last, something he is competent at. Figures that this would be it, ruining the rest of us.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. Yes - so many fronts, all important battles. Jen Sorensen's cartoon

from some months back gets it perfectly:

[Lasher]

4. Their goal - END employer paid health care.

This threat is real. Here is another thread on the subject, started by Salin last month.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=210673

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. This outrages comes from the same priorities that led them to try to

sneak Social Security privatization into the budget.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x358744
thread title (2-8-06 GD): Newsweek: Bush buried Social Security privatization proposals in budget
Another thread on this:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x359485
thread title (2-8-06 GD): Bush HIDES SOCIAL SECURITY Privatization in Budget.
Later editorial in the Wash Times:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x190476
thread title (2-12-06 Editorials): Critics cry foul in Bush Social Security maneuver
Comment/excerpt: “’I did not expect that,’ said Rep. Sander M. Levin, Michigan Democrat, who criticized the plan last week while talking to reporters. ‘We wanted to talk today to make sure that everybody in the country understands that this is what drives the president of the United States: privatization of Social Security.’ “

The change would be disastrous and would also cost the taxpayers an enormous amount - you are screwed and have to pay for it forever too. As long as THEY rake in the loot, that's just fine.

[progressoid]

7. marking this for a read later

[salin]

8. Excellent write up. However there is a bigger storm brewing

bush has had a "tax simplification" panel working on proposals - first floated a year ago. Among the "simplifications" includes ending tax incentives to employers offering health benefits a move that in times of escalating health insurance premiums would make it so much more expensive to provide the benefit that many would stop doing so. But don't worry Americans... bushonomics has an alternative for us...well for those of us that can afford it. :sarcasm:

[DemReadingDU]

9. K&R

Thanks for posting this article