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Boosters note that HSAs give people an incentive to think twice before going to the doctor or the hospital.

They say that can keep a lid on health costs.

“It permits the individual to be more engaged in their health care,” said Dennis Triplett, president of Kansas City-based UMB Healthcare Services, which provides services for health savings account funds.

Big bucks For banks and health insurance companies, health savings accounts offer a tremendous new source of revenue.

DiamondCluster International, a consulting firm, estimates that $75 billion in assets could be parked in these accounts by 2010.

Those assets have to be managed.

“Some banks see this as an opportunity to partner with health insurers or third-party benefit administrators, to develop a new income source,” said Triplett.

“Other banks are doing this to accommodate their existing client base with another service.” The money-making potential of the accounts has created a climate for bank-health insurance cross-pollination.

UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest insurers, has chartered its own bank to service HSA assets, and the Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association also is chartering a bank.

The association also is partne...

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