president of Paragon Health Institute and former special assistant to the president for economic policy during the first Trump administration. “HSAs are a proven way to empow-
er patients and take control away from insurers and the bureaucracy.” HSAs are owned by the individual,
not the employer, which enables por- tability when changing jobs. HSAs facilitate lower-priced healthcare spending, according to a study from the University of Illinois and The George Washington Univer- sity.
Researchers tracked more than
76,000 enrollees over three years and recorded HSA users spending between 5%-7% less than patients with tradi- tional employer-provided insurance. Compounded over a lifetime, that amounts to significant savings. The OBBB expands HSA access to
new groups, clarifies the types of care covered by HSAs, and grants new eligibility for some healthcare insur- ance plans. “I wouldn’t say it’s like there’s a
massive transformation, but some of these things are pretty important,” said Avik Roy, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a conservative think tank. Roy, a onetime healthcare adviser
to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and former Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, told Newsmax Magazine the most impor- tant HSA measure in the OBBB was to expand the definition of an HDHP to include bronze and catastroph- ic plans, thereby increasing access to HSAs. This provision alone could benefit
the estimated nearly 2.5 million peo- ple enrolled in these types of plans. Many bronze and catastrophic
plans have out-of-pocket limits that already exceed IRS limits for HDHPs; however, they did not qualify due to government definitions passed from the creation of HSAs with the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improve-
Current rules prevent people from contributing to HSAs if they have Direct Primary Care arrangements or are using their HSAs to pay the monthly fees for DPC arrangements.
ment, and Modernization Act (MMA). In another provision of the OBBB,
direct primary care (DPC) arrange- ments would be explicitly allowed. DPC is an arrangement where peo- ple pay a primary care practice a flat monthly fee for access to its services — an attractive feature for many patients and providers, since it allows them to avoid the hassle of using insurance for routine care. Current rules prevent people from contributing to HSAs if they have DPC arrangements or are using their HSAs to pay the monthly fees for DPC arrangements. This provision removes these limi-
tations and permits people with DPC arrangements to contribute to HSAs and use them to pay the fees up to a $150 monthly limit for individuals and a $300 monthly limit for families. During the COVID-19 era and in
the aftermath, telehealth medicine in America has expanded. By law, consumers can only use
HSAs with HDHPs. Under OBBB, a plan that excludes telehealth services and other remote care pre-deductible does not preclude that plan from being considered an HDHP. In practice, this will result in great-
er flexibility for HDHP design and more opportunities for individuals to contribute to HSAs. In addition to the OBBB provi-
sions, Congress is also considering a separate bipartisan HSA bill intro- duced by Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., who is also a physician.
Carrie Sheffield is a senior policy analyst for the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women’s Forum.
Help for Families Caring for Aging Parents
T
he Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, a bipartisan bill from Sens.
Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., would allow individuals to use tax-free HSAs and FSAs to cover medical expenses for their aging parents, even if those parents are not claimed as tax dependents. Under current law, adult children
can only use HSA funds if their parents qualify as dependents for tax purposes. This bill would remove that restriction, offering families greater flexibility and financial assistance as they support their loved ones. Data show the vast majority of
seniors prefer to age in place, in their own homes. However, many need a hand to make that possible. Family caregivers often help fill this gap. Today, about 53 million people
in the United States are family caregivers. These caregivers devote their time, energy, and financial resources to their loved ones. Supporters of the HSA bill hope it will help ease the financial stress and strain that caregiving can bring. “I think having patients be more engaged and shop for the things they can shop for, I do think it does help,” Avik Roy, founder and chairman of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity and a healthcare expert, said. “It creates that mindset of an engaged consumer who’s looking around and searching. It creates more demand for, say, websites that help you find healthcare providers and give people a sense of where there’s quality, and where there isn’t.” — C.S.
AUGUST 2025 | NEWSMAX 15
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