| Hello John, It’s that time of year again: open enrollment season. And for most of us, it comes with a bit of dread. More than half of Americans must pick a health plan for the coming year from a confusing and limited list of one-size-fits-all options that are untailored to the unique needs of an individual. And whatever plan they pick will end up costing them a lot more money, as health insurance premiums are going up an average of 6 percent next year. Imagine if open enrollment was something to look forward to, with affordable choices, clear options, and plans tailored to your needs. Last year around this time I wrote a piece for Real Clear Health about all the ways that policymakers in Washington could make choosing health coverage a better experience. The best way to get more choice and lower costs in your health care is to contact your lawmaker and tell them you want a Personal Option. The Personal Option is the health care proposal based on a simple premise – we should fund patients, not the system! Fund patients. When people control their health care dollars, they control the decisions – and get better value. Existing government help tends to go directly into the coffers of health insurance companies. Let’s give that money to patients directly. Expand HSAs. Health savings accounts are special savings accounts that allow holders to used tax-free money for things like out-of-pocket medical expenses like deductibles and copays, prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, and doctor’s appointments. I use my own HSA to shop for household medical supplies through the super-convenient online Amazon HSA store and more recently, to purchase my daily AG1 greens supplement. HSA contributions and withdrawals are tax free, and you or your employer or both can put tax-exempt money into the account, up to a cap. This money is yours — forever. You can take it with you when you leave your job or retire. You can invest it to build a reserve for emergencies. Unfortunately, nearly 90% of Americans lack access to this powerful financial tool because of outdated federal rules. Remove middlemen. It’s time to give more Americans access to direct patient care. Insurance-free health care that lets you access your doctor 24/7 at a flat, low monthly price. Studies show DPC doctors spend four times more time with their patients than do traditional fee-for-service doctors, because they don’t have to deal with insurance-company rules and paperwork. It’s better care. DPC patients enter emergency rooms 31 percent less often than patients with traditional doctors and spend 36 percent less on prescription drugs. If you’re tired of dreading finding the right health coverage each year, tell your lawmakers you want more personalized and affordable options to pick from. | 
