Legislation Offers HRA Tax Parity, But Limits Use to Two States
Today's call-to-action asks that you help improve health savings plans by contacting your Representative and Senators and letting them know that you support modification of a pending legislative provision on Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) to extend it to all states and municipalities.
Please ask your Representative and Senators to support the Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act (H.R. 6382), but with a key modification that would broaden the bill's impact. As approved by the House on July 9, 2008, the Act permits a certain class of governmental plans to include individuals other than a qualifying spouse or dependent as beneficiaries on employees' HRAs, provided those beneficiaries pay taxes on HRA amounts they ultimately receive.
This provision was designed to apply to only two state governments. The provision should be broadened to include all states and municipalities.
Below are two sample letters you can use to write your Congressperson. You may also want to encourage your employees to contact their representatives. To help you in your efforts we have created a sample page that you may use to inform your employees.
Tell Congress You Support Passage of This Important Legislation!
Please consider emailing your Representative and Senators to urge their support for this legislation.
- To find your Representative's or Senator's contact information, use the U.S. House directory or U.S. Senate contact page.
- Copy the text into your personal e-mail
- Insert the name of your Representative or Senator at the top and your name at the bottom and send.
Sample E-mail for Plan Sponsors to Send to Representatives
Dear Representative:
As a constituent and as a public-sector employer that offers a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to our employees, I am writing to urge you to support the Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act (H.R. 6382), but with a key modification that would broaden the bill's impact and encourage wider use of this important HRA benefit.
As approved by the House on July 9, 2008, the Act permits a certain class of governmental plans to include individuals other than a qualifying spouse or dependent as beneficiaries on employees' HRAs, provided those beneficiaries pay taxes on HRA amounts they ultimately receive.
This provision was designed to apply to HRAs offered by two different state governments that meet the criterion described in the bill. Such a narrow application denies parity on this critical issue of providing affordable and effective health care for all. The provision should be broadened to include all states and municipalities.
I urge you to support the bill with this important modification and thank you in advance for your support for this important issue.
Respectfully yours,
Jane Doe
Town of Vantagepoint
Sample E-mail For Plan Sponsors to Send to Senators
Dear Senator:
As a constituent and as a public-sector employer that offers a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to our employees, I am writing to urge you to support the Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act (H.R. 6382), but with a key modification that would broaden the bill's impact and encourage wider use of this important benefit.
As approved by the House on July 9, 2008, the Act permits a certain class of governmental plans to include individuals other than a qualifying spouse or dependent as beneficiaries on employees' HRAs, provided those beneficiaries pay taxes on HRA amounts they ultimately receive.
This provision was designed to apply to HRAs offered by two different state governments that meet the criterion described in the bill. Such a narrow application denies parity on this critical issue of providing affordable and effective health care for all. The provision should be broadened to include all states and municipalities.
I urge you to support the bill with this important modification and thank you in advance for your support for this important issue.
Respectfully yours,
Jane Doe
Town of Vantagepoint