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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) joined his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in voting to pass two bills expanding access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and providing patients with more health care options. Included in H.R. 6311, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Account Act, was a provision to allow seniors with HSA-eligible coverage that are enrolled in Medicare Part A to contribute to an HSA. This will provide working seniors more options by allowing them to stay on an employer sponsored plan if they choose. Latta had authored legislation to fix this issue after hearing from married constituents who were automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A after one of them began receiving social security benefits.

In addition, H.R. 6311 delays Obamacare’s health insurance tax for two years in 2020 and 2021. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the health insurer tax increases insurance premiums by 2.5%. The tax is already suspended for 2019. It also would change Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) by allowing balances to carry forward up to three times the annual contribution limit. Currently, only $500 contributed to an FSA is eligible to be carried over to the next year according to Internal Revenue Service regulations.

The House also passed H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act, which makes it easier for Americans to use their HSAs and reduce the burden of high health care costs. For instance, the bill will allow HSA-eligible plans to offer a certain amount of first-dollar coverage while still maintaining HSA eligibility. This would provide more flexibility for plans to cover high-value, low-cost services like telehealth or primary care appointments without a deductible. The bill also would allow the use of HSAs to pay for over-the-counter products without needing to obtain a prescription.

“Health savings accounts have soared in popularity as they allow Americans more flexibility and choices when making their health care decisions,” said Latta. “Nearly 22 million people have HSA accounts which is more than double the 10.6 million enrolled in Obamacare exchanges. Despite this fact, there is much that can be done to make HSAs easier to use. I’m glad that these bills fix the technical issue that I had raised after constituents contacted me and said rules made it impossible for them to continue contributing to their Health Savings Accounts – even though one of them was still working.

“We’re also taking steps to support medical innovation and reduce premium costs by suspending the health insurance tax and medical device tax, two Obamacare provisions that hurt patients. The health insurance tax increases premiums, and the medical device has longed faced bipartisan opposition due to its stifling effect on life-saving and life-improving innovation.”

Latta also joined his bipartisan colleagues in passing H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which fully repeals the 2.3% excise tax on medical devices. According to the Tax Foundation, the tax lowered research and development spending by $34 million in 2013. 

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