H*5161 Session 110 (1993-1994)
H*5161 Concurrent Resolution, By J.J. Bailey
Similar(S 1399)
A Concurrent Resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to
promptly enact legislation to provide for medical care savings accounts.
04/27/94 House Introduced HJ-10
04/27/94 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
Resolutions HJ-10
04/28/94 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
Memorial Resolutions HJ-297
05/10/94 House Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-145
05/12/94 Senate Introduced SJ-20
05/12/94 Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-21
05/18/94 Senate Recalled from Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-31
05/24/94 Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence SJ-71
RECALLED
May 18, 1994
H. 5161
Introduced by REP. J. Bailey
S. Printed 5/18/94--S.
Read the first time May 12, 1994.
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO MEMORIALIZE THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
TO PROMPTLY ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR
MEDICAL CARE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.
Whereas, thirty-seven million Americans are without health insurance
and many more are under-insured because of the effects of rising health
care costs. The costs of health care are escalating by as much as
seventeen percent each year. This has forced employers to trim the level
and availability of health care benefits to their employees; and
Whereas, polling of citizens shows that a substantial majority feel that
affordable health care is the number one economic issue facing them;
and
Whereas, over-utilization of medical services for relatively small claims
is one of the most significant causes of health care cost increases. More
than two-thirds of all insurance claims for medical spending are less than
three thousand dollars each year for families in this country; and
Whereas, the concept of medical savings accounts has developed in
response to the runaway cost increases of health care in this country.
This initiative is designed to bring market forces to bear on health care
and its financing. It is predicated on providing incentives to eliminate
unnecessary medical treatment and encourage competition in seeking
health care; and
Whereas, through employer-funded medical care savings and reduced
cost catastrophic insurance policies, millions of Americans could insure
themselves for both routine and major medical services. Under the
concept of medical care savings accounts, an employer making annual
premium payments of four thousand five hundred dollars per employee
each year, the national average, would invest three thousand into a
medical care bank account for each employee. From this amount, the
employee would pay the first three thousand dollars of medical
expenses. The remaining one thousand five hundred dollars of the
employer's contribution would go toward the purchase of a group policy
to cover catastrophic medical costs up to a specified limit. Any of the
three thousand dollars not used to pay incurred medical bills belongs to
the employee. This would be a strong incentive for people not to abuse
health expenditures, and this concept also makes it more feasible for low
income workers to seek preventive care and early intervention which
they might otherwise be forced to forego due to high deductibles in
traditional policies; and
Whereas, by making medical care decisions the employee's prerogative,
individuals have a strong stake in reducing costs. This simple financial
mechanism also will expand health insurance options to others who
presently have no insurance. Most importantly, this move to decrease
health care cost burdens in this country would require no new federal
bureaucracy and would be revenue neutral to employers. Now,
therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of South Carolina hereby
memorialize the Congress of the United States to promptly enact
legislation to enable Americans to establish medical care savings
accounts.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the
President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States
House of Representatives, and each member of the South Carolina
Congressional Delegation.
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