LaHood Introduces Legislation to Expand Healthcare Options for Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) introduced the Health Savings for Families Act. This legislation would allow individuals to maintain a Health Savings Account (HSA) even if the individual’s spouse is enrolled in a Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), giving patients more choice and control of their own healthcare dollars. "As we continue our to work to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, I was proud to introduce the Health Savings for Families Act," said Rep. LaHood. "This legislation is a commonsense policy that will help Americans have more control and choice over their healthcare dollars. Instead of penalizing families for responsibly managing their money, the Health Savings for Families Act removes an unnecessary barrier to allow couples to access healthcare services and spend their money how they see fit." Background: Under current law, FSAs can be used to reimburse expenses for an individual and their spouses and dependents. This eligibility for FSA benefits disqualifies an otherwise eligible FSA enrollee’s spouse from contributing to an HSA, even when each spouse is covered under a separate health plan. The Health Savings for Families Act fixes this flaw, allowing spouses of FSA enrollees the option to contribute to a separate HSA plan, giving families more flexibility and control over their healthcare decisions. Full text of the bill can be found HERE . ###