Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Mike Carey (R-OH) and Jared Golden (D-ME) introduced legislation to expand HSA benefits for disabled and injured veterans.
“We owe every brave man and woman that put on this nation’s uniform a debt of gratitude,” said Congressman Carey. “They served selflessly and should not be burdened by bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to access their health savings accounts. Our common-sense, bipartisan bill ensures that disabled veterans will be able to fully utilize their health benefits in a timely fashion.”
The Veterans HSA Access Act would allow disabled veterans who were injured in non-service-related incidents to continue contributing to their health savings accounts (HSA) even if they receive other VA health benefits. Federal law currently requires nonservice-connected disabled veterans to wait three months before they’re able to contribute to their HSA.
“Arbitrary standards prevent veterans from contributing to their health savings accounts without delays,” said Congressman Golden. “Veterans should be able to use all available resources to manage out-of-pocket healthcare costs for themselves and their families. I’m proud to work across the aisle to reduce these barriers.”
The bipartisan Veterans HSA Access Act is backed by some of America’s leading groups representing disabled veterans.
“For too long, millions who have served our country have been denied access to tax-free health savings accounts, a powerful financial tool that already gives civilian patients direct access to medical items and services that may not be covered by their insurance or government health benefits,” said Russ Duerstine, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. “By giving all veterans the option to save and pay for health care tax-free, the Veterans HSA Access Act would remove an unnecessary bureaucratic barrier to veterans’ health care choice. It’s simple – our nation’s heroes should have full choice and flexibility over their own care.”
Brent Gardner, the chief government affairs officer of Americans for Prosperity, applauded the legislation as a “long-overdue reform.”
“We support the Veterans HSA Access Act because it offers a personal option to those who have worn the uniform, too many of whom do not have full choice or control over their healthcare. Under the bill, every veteran could use tax-exempt savings to pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses, for themselves, their spouses, and their dependents,” said Gardner. “That extra measure of choice and control will give veterans’ families more affordability, and more peace of mind. Congratulations to Congressman Carey for proposing a smart, long-overdue reform that would give millions of Americans access to more personalized, affordable care.”
This legislation is also backed by the HSA Coalition, the American Benefits Council, and the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation. You can view the bill here.