Washington Week on PBS - Health care
Gwen Ifill, moderator: The president talked at this economic summit about health care savings accounts as another kind of privatizing, if you will, a word I swore I'd never use on the air, of private investment opportunity for people to pay for health insurance. Is that something which is part of his vision for trying to get some sort of handle on Medicare or Medicaid?
Ceci Connolly, The Washington Post: Well, it probably wouldn't help with something like Medicaid because that's mainly a low-income program.
Gwen Ifill, moderator: Nothing to save.
Ceci Connolly, The Washington Post: You're not going to have those individuals doing it. It might help a little bit with the ranks of the uninsured because there are a certain number of people who don't have health insurance for a variety of reasons and they might be attracted to these accounts because they may be more affordable. The argument always against them is you don't really get the sort of coverage that you need. Interesting little footnote to this week's summit, the president mentioned that he bought himself a health savings account. Now I'm a little puzzled as to why because he has free health coverage as president. It's a good gesture on his part. [P6: emphasis added]
Gwen Ifill, moderator: He's got to make a point. He's the president.
