Expand HSAs for Supplements & Patient Empowerment
Health Savings Accounts expand choices for consumers; Supplements build immunity against disease
Expand HSAs for Patient Empowerment!
Supplement Deductibility is key for Disease Prevention
In response to the declared pandemic, Congress passed in 2020 a law (the “CARES” Act) that expanded a popular health benefit (“Health Savings Accounts”) to subsidize medicines bought “Over-The-Counter” (OTC), i.e., without having to get a doctor’s prescription to purchase. It was thought easing patients’ access to medicine via OTC would stem harm from the pandemic.[1]
But what about natural treatments like dietary supplements? The National Institutes of Health (NIH) found 90% of COVID-19 deaths lacked sufficient Vitamin D.[2] Even before COVID-19, a 1997 study found a least one vitamin gap in almost 40% of women and over 50% of African Americans.[3]
And if we look at an actual epidemic like chronic disease - which affects over half the population with cancers, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders - the NIH reported up to 80% of such maladies are preventable via more natural medicine that includes supplemental vitamins.[4] Further, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found 90% of the nation’s $4 trillion annual health bill stems from chronic disease, which must therefore be reversed.[5]
The National Health Federation thus requests Congressional expansion of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), to include support for supplements. Congressman Boyle and Senator Cramer introduced legislation in 2021 to this effect (S. 1654 and H.R. 5747), as have Senator Paul and Congressman Biggs (S. 4367 and H.R. 8032) and Senator Cruz and Rep Roy (the "Personalized Care Act".[6] We urge their re-introduction and support in the current Congress.
Just a quick note that if you struggle with the zip code finder at the bottom of this page, just copy the below text, find your U.S. Rep and both Senators and paste into an email to all 3 politicians.
The Paul bill offers a second support for natural medicine, via its repeal of the caps on HSA contributions. Individuals currently can put around $3,500 tax-free into an HSA, while a family can fund around $7,000. By allowing unlimited funding of HSAs, the bill would let families pay more of the health bill with cash, versus relying on third-party insurers. When patients control health decisions, studies show they want more integrated and natural therapies.[7] The Paul bill also expands HSAs for more preventive treatments - like physical trainers, nutritionists, health coaches, and exercise equipment.
HSAs make a critical element for boosting natural health in a time of pandemic or with epidemics like Chronic Disease. They are used by over 30 million families and have more tax benefits than the similarly-popular 401(k)s and IRAs. Contributions are pre-tax for employees or deductible for the self-employed, tax-free in terms of interest earned in them, and tax-free when withdrawn for expenses approved by the IRS.[8] Despite their benefits, 90% of Americans can’t access HSAs, a problem yet another HSA bill - by Representative Roy (HR 9160) - would fix by decoupling HSAs from an unpopular high-deductible policy requirement, and expanding eligible expenses to include Direct Primary Care, Insurance Premiums and Medical Cost Sharing payments.[9] Any HSA expansion would spur consumer empowerment - which in turn boosts natural treatment utilization.
HSAs should support prevention, not just treatment, and more cash payments generally. Patients need more prevention, especially during a pandemic or for the real epidemic - chronic disease.
To send NHF’s email urging HSA supplement deductibility, insert your zip code below.
Links:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/23/use-your-fsa-or-hsa-funds-for-over-the-counter-medications.html
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33260798/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5638636/
[6] https://www.npanational.org/news/reps-boyle-and-lahood-introduce-companion-to-senates-hsa-expansion-bill/; https://www.johnlocke.org/sen-paul-introduces-universal-hsa-bill/; https://conservativeactionproject.com/conservatives-support-the-efforts-of-senator-ted-cruz-and-representative-chip-roy-with-the-personalized-care-act/
[7] https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-03-patients-complementary-alternative-treatments-cash.html
[8] https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/582176-health-savings-accounts-best-401ks-and-the-rest?rl=1
[9] https://americansforprosperity.org/how-to-fix-the-hsa-ceiling/; https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/3750941-the-healthcare-freedom-act-is-a-vital-solution-to-runaway-medical-debt/