hsa_main.swf

During Fox News' post-speech coverage of the State of the Union address on January 23, Fox News Washington bureau managing editor Brit Hume used the phrase gold-plated policies to refer to those employer-provided health insurance policies that would be taxed under President Bush's new health care proposal, but he did not identify it as the phrase Bush used as well during his weekly radio address to characterize those plans. In his January 20 radio address , Bush described his new proposal: BUSH: One of the most promising ways to make private health insurance more affordable is by reforming the Federal tax code. Today, the tax code unfairly penalizes people who do not get health insurance through their job. It unwisely encourages workers to choose overly expensive, gold-plated plans. The result is that insurance premiums rise, and many Americans cannot afford the coverage they need. We need to fix these problems, and one way to do so is to treat health insurance more like home ownership. The current tax code encourages home ownership by allowing you to deduct the interest on your mortgage from your taxes. We can reform the tax code, so that it provides a similar incentive for you to buy health insurance. So in my State of the Union Address next Tuesday, I will propose a tax reform designed to help make basic private health insurance more affordable -- whether you get it through your job or on your own. As Media Matters for America noted , Bush's plan has already drawn opposition from congressional Democrats who claim it will raise taxes for middle-class workers. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, called Bush's proposal a bad policy, adding, We are trying to bring tax relief to the middle class. The president is trying to increase their tax liability. This proposal is inconsistent with what the majority is seeking in the House and the Senate. In his January 22 column (subscription required), New York Times columnist Pa

hsa_main.swf

and $2,000 for family coverage. The maximum out-of-pocket expenses for allowed costs must be no more than $5,000 for self-only coverage and no more than $10,000 for family. View the Time Insurance Health Savings Account presentation. This is presented in Shockwave Flash format and is best viewed by a higher speed internet connection, such as a cable modem or DSL. If you





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