Rep. Lamborn Cosponsors the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act

Statement

Earlier this week, Congressman Doug Lamborn joined Congressman Alex Mooney in introducing H.R. 6471, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act. This legislation would prevent various types of health savings accounts from paying for abortions. Abortion is not health care and should not be considered a medical expense.

"Since the dreadful Roe v. Wade decision 49 years ago, we have witnessed abortion's brutal attack on families, women, and unborn babies," said Congressman Lamborn. "Every life, born and unborn is worthy of respect, protection, and care. We must continue to fight for the unborn' s right to life. If passed, the Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act would help end taxpayer-subsidized abortions paid for through health savings accounts. I hope that my colleagues in the House and Senate vote for this bill and protect the most vulnerable in our society."

Background: Federal law allows individuals to use tax-advantaged funds in health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible savings accounts (FSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs), and retiree health accounts to cover their medical expenses. These accounts allow users to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. These accounts can help pay for deductibles, copays, and medical procedures.

Unfortunately, the IRS categorizes elective abortions as an eligible medical expense to be paid using these tax-advantaged savings accounts. The Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts is the House companion to legislation introduced earlier this year by Senator Mike Lee of Utah in the United States Senate.

Read the text of the H.R. 6471 here.

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