Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-6134
Sponsor: Rep. Cantor, Eric [R-VA-7]
Introduced: 2006-09-21 in the House
Policy area: Taxation
Subjects: Coinsurance
Cost of living adjustments
Economics and Public Finance
Employee health benefits
Excise tax
Finance and Financial Sector
Flexible benefit plans
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Health
Health insurance
Income tax
Indexing (Economic policy)
Individual retirement accounts
Labor and Employment
Medical economics
Medical savings accounts
Tax deductions
Tax exclusion
Tax penalties

Summary:
action_date: 2006-09-21
text: 
Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow a one-time tax-free transfer of amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement or a health reimbursement arrangement to a health savings account (HSA) if such transfer takes place by January 1, 2012; (2) repeal deductible limitations on tax deductions for contributions to HSAs; (3) require the Secretary of the Treasury to publish inflation adjustments for HSA contribution and deductible amounts by June 1 of each year; (4) allow individuals who establish an HSA after the beginning of a taxable year to make contributions to such account up to the full annual limit; (5) permit employers to make higher contributions to the HSAs of employees who are not highly compensated; and (6) allow a one-time tax-free rollover of individual retirement account funds to an HSA.

action_date: 2006-09-29
text: 
Health Opportunity Patient Empowerment Act of 2006 - Amends Internal Revenue Code provisions relating to high deductible health plans and health savings accounts (HSAs). 
 
(Sec. 2) Allows a one-time distribution of amounts in a health flexible spending arrangement or a health reimbursement arrangement to an HSA if such distribution takes place before January 1, 2012. Requires distribution amounts to be included in the gross income of any individual (except a deceased or disabled individual) who fails to maintain coverage in a high deductible health plan and imposes an additional 10% penalty tax on such amounts. 
 
Allows certain coverage under a flexible spending arrangement for taxable years after December 31, 2006, to be disregarded for purposes of determining eligibility for high deductible health plan coverage.
 
(Sec. 3) Repeals the deductible limitations on tax deductions for contributions to HSAs.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires inflation adjustments to HSA contribution and deductible amounts to be determined at the end of the 12-month period ending on March 31 (currently, August 31). Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish inflation adjustments for HSA contribution and deductible amounts by June 1 of each year. 
 
(Sec. 5) Allows individuals who establish an HSA after the beginning of a taxable year to make contributions up to the full annual limit.
 
(Sec. 6) Permits employers to make higher contributions to the HSAs of employees who are not highly compensated. 
 
(Sec. 7) Allows a one-time tax-free distribution of individual retirement account (IRA) funds to an HSA. Requires distribution amounts to be included in the gross income of any individual (except a deceased or disabled individual) who fails to maintain coverage in a high deductible health plan and imposes an additional 10% penalty tax on such amounts.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 423.
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 109-704.
action_date: 2006-09-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Ways and Means. H. Rept. 109-704.
action_date: 2006-09-21
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
action_date: 2006-09-21
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-09-21
text: Introduced in House