Grassley, Heitkamp, Boustany, and Thompson Introduce Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) Bills
On
Grassley, Heitkamp, Boustany, and Thompson's legislation restores flexibility and choice into the marketplace by:
* Ensuring that small businesses and local municipalities with fewer than 50 employees are allowed to continue using pre-tax dollars to give employees a defined contribution for healthcare expenses
* Allowing employees to use HRA funds to purchase health coverage on the individual market, as well as for qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses if the employee has qualified health coverage
* Protecting employers from being financially penalized for providing this cost-sharing option to employees
Grassley said: "I've heard from farmers, small business owners and accountants who are worried about getting hit with a penalty for something they've done for a long time without any controversy. It doesn't make sense to tell small employers they can't help their employees get health insurance. Why disrupt something that worked? Our bill puts this provision back to what it was so farmers and small businesses can use this option as they see fit."
Heitkamp said: "Our bipartisan bill would make a needed fix to restore the ability for small businesses, which sometimes can't afford to provide health benefits? for employees, to help their workers purchase coverage using HRAs. That just makes sense. I have long said some parts of the health care reform law work, but we need to improve the pieces that should work better for families and small businesses - and this bill continues those efforts."
Boustany said: "Restoring choice and affordability in the healthcare marketplace is the key to driving down costs and improving accessibility for consumers. Using Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangements is a creative approach that allows employees to select healthcare plans that are best tailored to fit their needs. Our common-sense bipartisan legislation frees employers to provide their employees with options that will put the individual in charge."
Thompson said: "This common-sense, bipartisan bill is about choice and affordability. It will allow small businesses to offer Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangements to their workers so they can choose a quality, affordable health insurance plan that fits their individual budget and healthcare needs."
Supporters of the legislation include the
A one-page summary of the legislation introduced by Grassley, Heitkamp, Boustany, and Thompson and an issue backgrounder for the legislation are available here http://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/news/upload/HR%202911%20-%20Summary%20of%20Legislation%2C%207-7-15.pdf and here http://www.grassley.senate.gov/sites/default/files/news/upload/HR%202911%20-%20Issue%20Backgrounder%2C%207-7-15%202.pdf.
Read this original document at: http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-heitkamp-boustany-and-thompson-introduce-health-reimbursement
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