The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided temporary relief during the pandemic by allowing Health Savings Account (HSA) qualified high-deductible health plans (HDHP) to cover telehealth services before reaching the deductible. It also allowed patients to choose and purchase telehealth services outside their HDHP, without impacting their eligibility for an HSA. There was a subsequent extension for the flexibility, but the popular provision is now set to expire at the end of the year.
Without Congressional action, employers will be required to charge employees more to access telehealth services, creating a barrier to care, including mental health treatment. In addition, this must be addressed before 2023, as health coverage is offered prospectively. There is already bipartisan, bicameral support in Congress to provide flexibility for plans and employers to offer telehealth pre-deductible in HSA plans, which is evident in the Telehealth Expansion Act of 2021 (H.R. 5981/S. 1704). It is vital that Congress extend this provision to expand access to care, maintain continuity to care and reduce out-of-pocket costs for millions of Americans.
Contact your legislators today and urge them to extend this flexibility as part of a year-end package!
1. Contact your legislators. Send an Operation Shout today urging lawmakers to extend this telehealth flexibility.
Tell your clients to take action. Your clients can also send a direct message about why their legislators should support these efforts. Tell them to take action here!
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