Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act
Description: This bill prohibits distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs) or other tax-preferred savings accounts for abortions except for abortions to terminate a pregnancy that is the result or rape or incest or to protect a women's health or life.
Sponsors: Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2]
Target Audience
Population: People with health savings accounts or similar arrangements related to medical expenses
Estimated Size: 10000000
- Health savings accounts (HSAs) are designed to help individuals with high deductible health plans save for medical expenses. In the US, there are approximately 31 million people with HSAs according to recent data.
- A significant portion of the US population may face limitations for reimbursing abortion services using an HSA under the conditions stipulated by this bill.
- The restrictions affect primarily women who might consider abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, or life-threatening circumstances.
- Globally, similar tax-advantaged health savings accounts might exist, but the specific impact will vary by country depending on national health policies. However, the direct impact will be more immediate and measurable within the US context.
- Access to abortions varies widely across different parts of the globe, with varying societal, religious, and legal constraints that affect the use of financial accounts for such procedures.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects individuals with HSAs looking to use these funds for abortion services outside of the allowed exceptions.
- We have to consider the distribution of HSAs among demographics, focusing on who would be impacted by this restriction.
- The policy does not increase financial cost to individuals directly as it restricts an existing option rather than introducing a new expense.
- A smaller subset of the approximately 31 million HSA holders in the US would be affected—mainly women, and especially those who might consider abortion for reasons outside the policy's exceptions.
- The budget considerations are for implementation, oversight, and communication about the policy, not for direct financial support.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I use my HSA for various medical expenses, but this restriction feels like a violation of personal rights.
- The restriction under this policy removes flexibility and could affect critical personal decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Nurse (San Diego, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy seems to make a difficult situation worse for women who may already feel helpless.
- It doesn't directly affect me right now, but I feel it's a step backward in women's healthcare access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Marketing Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might not affect me directly, but it creates unnecessary constraints.
- I think more about the equity and accessibility issues it presents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student (New York, NY)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This law directly impacts my options and adds stress to critical health decisions.
- Having fewer choices for healthcare payment is frustrating.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 6 |
Banker (Dallas, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The use of HSA funds shouldn't be restricted in personal health decisions.
- This policy feels like an infringement upon my control over my own savings.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Freelance Writer (Portland, OR)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the policy's intent, but it reduces the flexibility that makes HSAs appealing.
- There's too much governmental control over personal finances.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Real Estate Agent (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's important to keep financial tools versatile.
- The policy change makes HSAs less appealing overall.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Accountant (Boston, MA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy doesn't affect me much in practical terms, but I do worry about the trend started here.
- It's important to have a broad support system for all women's health issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Graphic Designer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having fewer options to fund healthcare is truly disappointing.
- This policy makes me feel less in control of my own health decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This particular policy doesn't interfere with my current usage of my HSA.
- However, I empathize with those who might heavily rely on their HSAs for such expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 3: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 5: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Key Considerations
- HSA holders represent a small portion of total healthcare spending; thus, the economic impact is modest.
- Although the bill regulates specific financial product usage, it doesn't address underlying healthcare service costs or the access to reproductive health services.
- The long-term effects could include shifts in healthcare savings patterns but are unlikely to shift national economic metrics.