Support the Health Freedom for Seniors Act

As one of our more than 6.9 million FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative today and ask him or her to support the Health Freedom for Seniors Act. Introduced by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), the bill would allow seniors currently forced to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts (IRA, 401(k)s, etc.) to instead roll that amount tax-free into an existing Health Savings Account. The Health Freedom for Seniors Act will expand the use of HSAs and increase an individual’s power over their own health care decisions.

Seniors must have more freedom to control their own health care decisions. Under current law, those who reach age 70 and one-half are forced to begin making required minimum distributions from IRAs and 401(k) plans. Anyone eligible for Medicare is not permitted to establish an HSA. The Health Freedom for Seniors Act would change this to provide seniors the ability to roll tax-advantaged savings account balances between different types of accounts.

One size does not fit all in health care. Seniors should be permitted to rollover their RMDs into an HSA. The Health Freedom for Seniors Act would give seniors more options while saving taxpayer money. HSAs let consumers control more of their health care decisions. They allow Americans to save tax-free dollars to pay for medical expenses and save for future health care costs. The accounts save money because high-deductible insurance is less expensive than low-deductible insurance.

This bill a great first step towards allowing seniors control over their health care. I hope you’ll call your representative and ask him or her to support the Health Freedom for Seniors Act, H.R. 975, and to co-sponsor the bill if they have not already done so.

Sincerely,

Matt Kibbe
President and CEO,
FreedomWorks