Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) and Florida Rep. Kat Cammack (R) have introduced the Increasing Value for Families with HSAs Act. The bill would help individuals and families with better planning and paying for medical expenses such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) through decoupling Health Savings Accounts (HSA) from high-deductible health plans as well as by doubling the current contribution limits on HSAs from $4,300 to $8,600 for individuals and $8,550 to $17,100 for families. Both Senator Scott and Rep. Cammack are also leading a bicameral resolution expressing their support of IVF.
Senator Scott took to the Senate floor to discuss the legislation's effort, his support of IVF, and his youngest daughter's current experience with undergoing IVF treatment. He called IVF "a wonderful thing that enables so many Americans to start and grow their families." Further expressing that IVF is a "blessing that is widely available and overwhelmingly supported," the Florida Senator lamented that "its high cost remains a barrier for many families and that's something that ought to change."
In introducing the bill with Rep. Cammack, Senator Scott addressed that it "allows every individual and family to better plan and pay for medical expenses, such as IVF, by expanding eligibility for Health Savings Accounts and increasing the current contribution limits on those HSAs." "This bill is commonsense and what American families expect out of Washington – solutions that make their lives easier and dreams possible."
Rep. Cammack also weighed in on the legislative effort, commenting that "building and growing a family is part of the American dream for millions in our country, but for too many parents and parents-to-be, IVF's high costs put the option out of reach. "By expanding HSA eligibility and increasing contribution limits for those HSAs, we’re pursuing solutions that will help make dreams reality."
Senator Scott also joined all Republican Senators in issuing a statement in support of nationwide access to in vitro fertilization.
“Senate Democrats have embraced a Summer of Scare Tactics—a partisan campaign of false fearmongering intended to mislead and confuse the American people," the senators express. "In vitro fertilization is legal and available in every state across our nation. We strongly support continued nationwide access to IVF, which has allowed millions of aspiring parents to start and grow their families.”
