Putting Patients First: The Case for Individual Health Accounts

Published January 11, 2024

The current healthcare system in the United States has major problems like rising costs and millions of uninsured, in large part because third parties like employers and the government negotiate healthcare costs behind the scenes.  While it might be convenient, these behind-the-scenes negotiations prevent patients from being informed and from understanding the true cost of their healthcare. Individual Health Accounts are a consumer-driven approach that would create a path to lower healthcare costs and can help millions of uninsured Americans find coverage.  IHAs would let patients save tax-free for out-of-pocket expenses, empowers them to make cost-effective and informed decisions, and, ultimately, allows the individual to take charge. 

Additional Resources:

• Read “Looking Ahead on Market-Based Health Reform" by Lanhee Chen, Tom Church, and Daniel Heil via Health Affairs.  Available here.
• Watch “What History Tells Us About the Public Option" with Lanhee Chen.  Available here.