DUBLIN, Ohio-In promoting his health care initiatives, President George W. Bush stopped in at Wendy's headquarters here and met with representatives of local businesses, including a representative of the Ohio Credit Union League. Shawn Kessinger, vice president of finance for the league, met with President Bush Feb. 15 when he came to discuss Health Savings Accounts, among other ideas he has to reduce the costs of health care. Kessinger was one of five local business representatives to participate in the half-hour, closed-door meeting with the president. "It was very interesting," she commented. "They herded us around like cattle." According to Kessinger, in her 11 years with the league, she has watched health care costs jumping anywhere from 30% to 50% each year. Until, in time for the 2005 calendar year, CUNA Mutual brought the HSA option to OCUL's attention. To help employees adjust to the change, the league put the bulk of its 40% savings on health insurance into the employees' HSAs, which came to about $5,200 for a family plan. The deductible on these plans was $6,000. OCUL also paid $800 of the $1,200 premiums in the first year. "I would encourage everyone to take a look at what might be possible," Kessinger said. She added that staff education and employer involvement is crucial to a smooth transition; the OCUL even brought in the families and explained to them the benefits and how everything would work. For 2006, the league will be footing the bill for 75% of the premiums as well as 75% of the HSAs. "The most positive change year over year is that we have credit unions offering to provide the HSAs," Kessinger commented. When they were looking into them in 2004, CUNA Mutual told OCUL they could not find any credit unions offering them. Kessinger said the Ohio league was considering drastic measures to reduce their health care burden until HSAs came along for its 23 employees when the president enacted the Medicare bill in 2003. "The meeting with the president was wonderful," she said. "He's very engaging. He seems to be very passionate about that subject."