You will need a high deductible health plan to open a health savings account (HSA). A HSA is an inexpensive and beneficial plan with a high deductible. Of course, this plan will not cover the first several thousands of dollars of health care expenses, but your HSA will help you to pay off the expenses which are not covered by your plan.

For example, in 2006 the deductible amounts for individual health insurance are $1,050 and $2,100 for family health insurance. In this way, the annual expenses with deductibles and co-pays included for 2006 can not surpass $5,250 (for private health insurance plan) and $10,500 (for family health insurance plan) in cash.

A high deductible health insurance is a good choice for you and your family. In this case the deductible is higher than a usual medical health insurance plan offers, but many people still prefer to save the money from monthly insurance premiums, which allows them to use the savings for some medical expenses in future. If you don't use those funds, they become tax-advantaged.

Health savings accounts allow you to get great flexibility in choice of medical adviser. In your retirement a HSA makes it possible to save money for your medical expenses, as well as HSA is adjustable and remains yours despite changes in your residence, employment and unemployment or medical coverage.

State officials say that if any of the healthcare overhaul plans under consideration on Beacon Hill passes intact, a wave effect is possible. High deductible health plans can be very attractive to those employers who have passed through five pauseless years of double-digit premium rises for standard health insurance. The state's HMOs could promote those employers and they would be able to get portable health plans what would allow them to take the plans from job to job. All this gives an opportunity to seed the marketplace effectively.

Timothy R. Murphy, Romney's secretary of health and human services said that this is a paradigm shift. He added that he wouldn't be surprised to see a lot more people actively taking these things up. "Large employers that we speak to are exploring a number of different options," said Mr. Murphy.

There are about 60,000 people in Massachusetts who have such insurance. It is less than 1 percent. According to industry estimates there are from 1 to 2 million people are enrolled in high deductible health insurance plans nationwide.

The latest results of a survey of 86 large national employers say that 45 percent of them are ready to offer such plans to their employees. According to the survey of Fidelity Investments, 6 percent of the average projected savings on premiums would take place.