Today, Democrats and Republicans from both chambers of Congress met with the President to discuss a variety of topics on health care reform. At multiple points, the conversation shifted to the value that health savings account (HSA) health plans are providing. Here are some facts that will help you discuss HSA health plans.

Americans choosing this vital source of coverage represent a wide range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Consider the following:

• HSA health plans provide comprehensive health coverage for more than eight million Americans.
• About 40 percent of tax filers age 19-64 who reported HSA activity on their tax returns had average annual incomes below $60,000. (Government Accountability Office, April 2008).
• About half of enrollees in an HSA-eligible plan are aged 40 and above, and half are below the age of 40. In the individual market, 25 percent of HSA-eligible plan enrollees were younger than age 20.
• The 2009 Kaiser Family Foundation study of employer-based health benefits found that 71 percent of employers that offered HSAs contributed to their employees' accounts, and that the average contribution for accounts was $1,000 for individuals and $1,640 for families.

Furthermore, HSA health plans are playing a role to help provide access to the uninsured, promote preventive health services and show individuals and families where their hard-earned money is going in the health care system.

• HSA premiums have been growing at a slower rate than traditional insurance premiums.
• HSAs offer the advantage of portability — if you change jobs or your employment status changes, you keep the money in your HSA and continue using it to pay for your health care.
• Most HSA plans provide incentives for you to stay engaged in your overall health and well-being and almost all HSA plans offered by employers offer first-dollar coverage for preventive services.
• HSA health plans play a vital role in providing health care coverage to millions of Americans who might otherwise be uninsured. A study by America's Health Insurance Plans found that 27 percent of those buying HSA health plans in the individual market previously did not have health insurance.
• Health savings accounts encourage individuals to take a more active role in determining how they receive health care by choosing how to spend their health care dollars. When health care decisions are made by patients based on quality, effectiveness, and cost, money is being spent more efficiently.