Tell Congress to Expand "Eligible Medical Expenses" Coverage!

The Retirement Health Investment Act of 2011—S.1098 in the Senate, HR.2010 in the House—would expand “eligible medical expenses” in the IRS code to include herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, meal replacement products, and other dietary and nutritional supplements.

“Eligible medical expenses” determine what can be covered by both Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Under current law the above are not considered “eligible medical expenses” and so HSAs cannot be used to cover them.

We support the bill, but are asking for an amendment to repeal a section of the healthcare reform act that threatens the existence of HSAs. The law needs to be changed to allow for catastrophic plans for people over 30 years of age, which would in turn make them eligible for HSAs.

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Dear [Decision Maker],

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As your constituent, I want you to know how pleased I am that the Retirement Health Investment Act of 2011 is now before both chambers of Congress. It is a splendid bill that would expand "eligible medical expenses" in the IRS code to include herbs, vitamins, minerals, homeopathic remedies, meal replacement products, and other dietary and nutritional supplements.

As you know, "eligible medical expenses" determine what can be covered by both Flexible Spending Arrangements (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Under current law the above are not considered "eligible medical expenses" and so HSAs cannot be used to cover them.

I am troubled, however, by a section of the healthcare reform act that threatens the existence of HSAs. The law needs to be changed to allow people over 30 years of age to be eligible for high-deductible (catastrophic) insurance, since the law that created HSAs made eligibility dependent on whether one is covered under a high-deductible insurance plan. But section 1302 (e)2(A) of the healthcare reform act limits high-deductible or catastrophic healthcare insurance plans to persons under the age of 30.

This means that beginning in 2014, people over the age of 30 will not be able to purchase an HSA because they will not be eligible for catastrophic plans -- making any changes to HSAs irrelevant to them.

I strongly support S.1098 and HR.2010 -- the coverage of herbs, vitamins, and other dietary supplements is essential under HSAs and FSAs. Please sign on as a co-sponsor! I would ask you to amend the bill to repeal the section of the healthcare reform act that limits eligibility of catastrophic and high-deductible insurance plans.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]

Protecting Natural Health