Health Savings Accounts: A Step Towards Fair Healthcare

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a rare win in the world of politics. They are supported by people from all sides and help people take control of their healthcare costs. The recent "Big Beautiful Bill" has made some improvements to HSAs, but there's still more to be done. In an ideal world, people wouldn't need special accounts to save for healthcare. The tax system would be fair, and people could save without being punished. But that's not the reality. Right now, people are taxed twice when they save money. This makes it harder for them to prepare for medical expenses. HSAs offer a solution. They let people save money for healthcare without being taxed. This encourages people to be smart about their healthcare spending. Since 2003, nearly 40 million people have used HSAs to take control of their healthcare costs. But HSAs aren't perfect. Right now, only certain workers can use them. To make HSAs truly fair, Congress needs to expand them to everyone. They also need to stop giving special treatment to employer-based health insurance. The recent "Big Beautiful Bill" made some progress. Starting in 2026, more people will be able to use HSAs. The bill also lets HSA funds be used for things like gym memberships and preventive care. These are smart changes that will help more people take control of their healthcare. But there's still more to be done. Congress needs to make HSAs available to all Medicare recipients and expand contribution limits. These changes would make the healthcare system more fair and give people more choices. HSAs are a step in the right direction. They give people more control over their healthcare and encourage smart spending. But to truly reform the healthcare system, Congress needs to keep working on expanding HSAs and making them available to everyone.