H.R. 3594 - Healthcare Freedom Act of 2019

116TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION

H.R. 3594

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create
health freedom accounts available to all individuals.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 28, 2019

Mr. ROY (for himself and Mr. BIGGS) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create health freedom accounts available to all individuals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Healthcare Freedom Act of 2019".

SEC. 2. HEALTH FREEDOM ACCOUNTS.

(a) IN GENERAL. — Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking "health savings account" and "health savings accounts" each place such terms appear and inserting "health freedom account" and "health freedom accounts", respectively.

(b) ALL INDIVIDUALS ALLOWED DEDUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. — Section 223(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking "who is an eligible individual for any month during the taxable year".

(c) NO LIMITATION ON PURCHASING HEALTH COVERAGE FROM HEALTH FREEDOM ACCOUNTS. — Section 223(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking subparagraphs (B) and (C) and the last sentence of subparagraph (A) and by adding at the end the following new subsection:

"(B) ADDITIONAL EXPENSES. — The term 'qualified medical expenses' includes costs associated with direct primary care, health care sharing ministries, and medical cost sharing organizations.".

(d) TRANSFERS ALLOWED TO OTHER HEALTH FREEDOM ACCOUNTS. — Section 223(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:

"(5) ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTION. — An amount paid or distributed from a health freedom account is a rollover contribution to the extent the amount received is paid into any other health freedom account not later than the 60th day after the date of such payment or distribution.".

(e) INCREASE IN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS. — Section 223(b)(1) of such Code is amended by striking "the sum of the monthly" and all that follows through "eligible individual" and inserting "$12,000 (twice such amount in the case of a joint return)".

(f) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. —

(1) Section 223(b) of such Code is amended by striking paragraphs (2), (5), (7), and (8) and by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (6) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively.

(2) Section 223(b)(2) of such Code (as redesignated by paragraph (2)) is amended to read as follows:

"(2) ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS 55 OR OLDER. — In the case of an individual who has attained age 55 before the close of the taxable year, the limitation under paragraph (1) shall be increased by $5,000.".

(3) Section 223(b)(3) of such Code (as redesignated by subparagraph (A)) is amended by striking the last sentence.

(4) Section 223 of such Code is amended by striking subsection (c).

(5) Section 223(d)(1)(A) of such Code is amended by striking "will be accepted" and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting "will be accepted unless it is in cash.".

(6) Section 223(f) of such Code is amended by striking paragraphs (7) and (8).

(7) Section 223(g)(1) of such Code is amended —

(A) by striking "Each dollar amount in subsections (b)(2) and (c)(2)(A)" and inserting "The dollar amount in subsection (b)(1)";

(B) by striking "thereof" and all that follows in subparagraph (B) through "'calendar year 2003'." and inserting "'calendar year 1997'."; and

(C) by striking "under subsections (b)(2) and (c)(2)(A)" and inserting "under subsection (b)(1)".

(8) The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended in the item relating to section 223 by striking "savings" and inserting "freedom".

(g) EFFECTIVE DATE. — The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to months in taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. EXCLUSION FOR EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS TO HEALTH FREEDOM ACCOUNTS.

(a) EMPLOYER EXCLUSION. —

(1) IN GENERAL. — The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by inserting after section 106 the following new section:

"SEC. 106A. CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMPLOYERS TO HEALTH FREEDOM ACCOUNTS.

"Gross income of an employee does not include amounts contributed by such employee's employer to a health freedom account of such employee.".

(2) EXCLUSION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMPLOYER TO ACCIDENT AND HEALTH PLANS. — The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking section 106.

(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT. — The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 is amended by striking the item relating to section 106 and inserting the following:

"Sec. 106A. Contributions by employers to health freedom accounts.".

(4) EFFECTIVE DATE. — The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect to employees hired on or after the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(b) TRANSITION RULE. —

(1) IN GENERAL. — Section 106(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows:

"(1) IN GENERAL. — Amounts contributed by an employee's employer to any health freedom account (as defined in section 223(d)) of such employee shall be treated as employer-provided coverage for medical expenses under an accident or health plan.".

(2) IN GENERAL. — The amendment made by this subsection shall apply with respect to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.