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Bill > S12


US S12

US S12
Health Savings Act of 2019


summary

Introduced
01/03/2019
In Committee
01/03/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve access to health care through expanded health savings accounts, and for other purposes. This bill modifies the requirements for health savings accounts (HSAs) to rename high deductible health plans as HSA-qualified health plans; allow spouses who have both attained age 55 to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA; make Medicare Part A (hospital insurance benefits) beneficiaries eligible to participate in an HSA; allow individuals eligible for hospital care or medical services under a program of the Indian Health Service or a tribal organization to participate in an HSA; allow members of a health care sharing ministry to participate in an HSA; allow individuals who receive primary care services in exchange for a fixed periodic fee or payment, or who receive health care benefits from an onsite medical clinic of an employer, to participate in an HSA; include amounts paid for prescription and over-the-counter medicines or drugs as "qualified medical expenses" for which distributions from an HSA or other tax-preferred savings accounts may be used; increase the limits on HSA contributions to match the sum of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket expenses permitted under a high deductible health plan; and allow HSA distributions to be used to purchase health insurance coverage. The bill also: (1) exempts HSAs from creditor claims in bankruptcy, and (2) reauthorizes Medicaid health opportunity accounts. The bill allows a medical care tax deduction for: (1) exercise equipment, physical fitness programs, and membership at a fitness facility; (2) nutritional and dietary supplements; and (3) periodic fees paid to a primary care physician and amounts paid for pre-paid primary care services.

AI Summary

This bill, the Health Savings Act of 2019, aims to improve access to healthcare through expanded health savings accounts (HSAs). Key provisions include: - Renaming "high deductible health plans" as "HSA-qualified health plans" and allowing both spouses to make catch-up contributions to the same HSA account. - Expanding eligibility for HSAs to include Medicare Part A beneficiaries, individuals eligible for Indian Health Service assistance, members of health care sharing ministries, those with direct primary care service arrangements, and individuals with on-site employer medical clinics. - Allowing HSA funds to be used for over-the-counter medications and health insurance premiums, and treating certain medical expenses incurred before an HSA is established as qualified expenses. - Enhancing the interaction between HSAs, flexible spending arrangements (FSAs), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), including allowing HSA funds to be rolled over from FSAs and HRAs. - Providing bankruptcy protections for HSAs, allowing administrative error corrections, reauthorizing Medicaid health opportunity accounts, and increasing the maximum HSA contribution limit. The bill also allows tax deductions for certain exercise equipment, nutritional supplements, and primary care provider fees.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (on 01/03/2019)

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