Brian Higgins: “Health savings accounts, while they may help people manage their healthcare costs marginally, the sad truth is this…”

“Health savings accounts, while they may help people manage their healthcare costs marginally, the sad truth is this legislation will do nothing--nothing--to lower healthcare costs and to improve healthcare quality. The legislation also does nothing--nothing--to protect people with preexisting conditions, and 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64\1/2\ have preexisting conditions. The legislation before us will increase the deficit by tens of billions of dollars and will threaten the long-term viability of Medicare and Social Security. Mr. Speaker, because of recent actions by the Trump Justice Department and House Republicans, millions of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64\1/2\ who buy their health insurance on the individual market are about to get clobbered with double-digit multiyear health insurance premium increases, and this Congress is doing nothing-- nothing--to help. This population needs the protection of Medicare now. Medicare at 50 would allow people to buy Medicare as their health insurance. Medicare is Affordable Care Act compliant, with essential benefits, has high patient satisfaction ratings, has full access to primary care and physician specialists, and always, always covers preexisting conditions. Medicare at 50 also is thousands of dollars cheaper when compared with the gold plan on the individual market. Mr.…”