Last week, Representative John Curtis introduced the bipartisan Dietary Supplements Access Act alongside Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), which will give millions of Americans more choice in how they are maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The legislation would permit individuals and families investing in health savings accounts to use pre-tax dollars to purchase dietary nutritional supplements, which are currently ineligible for purchase.

“The bipartisan legislation is a big deal for Utahns who use these products to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” said Rep. Curtis. “This bill also sends a clear message to consumers that Congress is serious about giving more Americans choice in how they take care of their health care needs, as well as the importance of proactive care. What works for one person may not work for another, and too often one-size-fits-all policymaking leads to higher costs for consumers and their families. I applaud Rep. Gottheimer in joining me in this effort and urge my colleagues to take this important step with us by supporting our legislation.”

“More than 70 million Americans are enrolled in FSAs and HSAs, and they count on their pre-tax healthcare funds to cover out-of-pocket costs and everyday health care supplies and medications,” said Rida Wong, President of Health-E Commerce. “Like the many account holders we hear from every day, we believe vitamins and supplements can help people manage their health and wellness and, as such, should be included as an eligible FSA or HSA expense. Health-E Commerce welcomes and applauds this bipartisan effort by U.S. Representatives John Curtis and Josh Gottheimer to recognize and repair this significant gap for individuals and families enrolled in FSAs and HSAs."

“CHPA applauds Representatives Curtis and Gottheimer for their bipartisan bill which would allow consumers to purchase dietary supplements through their flexible spending arrangements (FSA) or health savings accounts (HSA). Millions of consumers already utilize FSAs and HSAs to save money on their healthcare expenses. As consumers are increasingly turning to affordable self-care options that support their overall health and wellness, expanding FSA/HSA eligibility to include dietary supplements is a smart way to provide additional savings.” – Scott Melville, President of Consumer Healthcare Products Association

“This much-needed update to the law only makes sense. It provides equity to American consumers who purchase dietary supplements to lead more healthy lives, and it is especially appreciated in Utah, long seen as the epicenter of this industry.” – Loren Israelsen, President of United Natural Products Alliance

 “Putting consumers in charge of their health choices and allowing them to make informed decisions about their healthcare – as this legislation would do-- makes good policy sense. Permitting dietary supplements to be eligible expenditures under HSA’s, FSA’s, and HRA’s would incentivize healthy behaviors and consumer choice.  Reps. Curtis and Gottheimer recognize the contributions of these products in leading to better health and wellness of Americans.  AHPA is grateful for their leadership on this issue and wholeheartedly supports this important measure.” – Michael McGuffin, President of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)

On Background:

Health Savings Accounts are tax-advantage investment accounts that permit individuals or families to use pre-tax dollars toward qualified medical expenses. Current law limits HSA expenditures to individuals or families with High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), which are set at $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for families for the 2021 plan year. The current list of qualified medical expenses includes diabetic products, flu shots, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications to name a few, but excludes dietary nutritional supplements.

Congressman Curtis is long-time supporter of Health Savings Accounts. Earlier this year, he successfully urged the Biden Administration to add facemasks to the list of qualified medical expenses after introducing bipartisan legislation that would add certain personal protective equipment to the list of qualified medical expenses.

The Dietary Supplements Access Act builds off this recent bipartisan victory and previous legislative efforts to add these products to the list of qualified medical expenses. The legislation would also permit individuals using Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements to purchase these products using their accounts, giving over 90 million Americans more healthcare options.

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