The Medicare Prescription Drug Act of 2003 currently being considered by Congress includes two new options for paying health care expenses: Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Health Savings Security Accounts (HSSAs). Both provisions allow people to set aside tax-free money in a personally owned and directed account to be used for medical expenses. Proponents believe that, if enacted, HSAs and HSSAs will improve access to affordable health care. Will they?

CAHI has prepared a side-by-side comparison and brief analysis of the two proposed plans to illustrate why we say "yes and no."


Click here to read HSAs vs. HSSAs: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

For more on HSAs and HSSAs, see "Health Savings Accounts and Health Savings Security Accounts: A Comparison with MSAs, FSAs and HRAs"