America has a health care affordability gap. Congress is working toward change.

The Hill

2 days ago

The rising cost of health care polls as one of the top financial worries for hardworking American families, surpassing other financial stressors including debt, child care and fuel costs. This is particularly problematic for the millions of working-class Americans who are the backbone of our communities. Even those who have insurance can't escape the pressure when they are inevitably presented with medical bills not covered by their plans.
A resounding majority of voters — nearly 80 percent, according to a recent poll by Fabrizio Ward — say it's time the middle class has a dedicated tool to help them offset runaway health care costs. Yet the complexities and sheer size of our health care system make finding solutions seem insurmountable to many and divisive among the policymakers working toward change.
Even as leaders in Congress are focusing on the myriad of issues driving up the cost of care, such as prescription price hikes, lack of price transparency, and bureaucratic red tape, costs continue to climb. Americans can't afford to wait any longer.
That is why we are reaching across the aisle and supporting the Health Out-of-Pocket Expense Act, or HOPE Act, to give over 100 million eligible Americans the chance to manage their health care expenses. By advancing bipartisan legislation, we can bridge the health care affordability gap, help hardworking Americans receive the care they need, promote better health care outcomes, and work toward becoming a healthier nation.
The HOPE Act, with its broad eligibility and tax advantages, offers a structured and personal way to save for future health needs. The legislation introduces HOPE Accounts, an innovative savings tool designed to help individuals and families plan for medical costs. Individuals and their employers can contribute to a personal account that stays with them forever, untethered to their job, giving people a new way to save for future health expenses, from a routine visit to preventative care to an unforeseen emergency.
Most appealing to Americans is the portability of HOPE Accounts, meaning the funds can never be lost, even when they change jobs. It's security for the long run.
The HOPE Act offers a lifeline for families and individuals who find themselves battling these ever-rising costs, the consequences of which are illustrated both by data and constituent stories. A staggering 45 percent of adults in the U.S. can't afford care when they need it — a 6-point increase since 2022. Families are delaying or altogether skipping out on medical treatment simply out of fear of health care costs, threatening their physical health and adding to anxieties and stress.
Nearly one in three American adults avoided seeking needed care in three months alone, while others, often living paycheck to paycheck, are forced to choose between their health and affording other basic, essential needs from paying off bills and credit cards to buying food for their families.
Worse yet, when care can no longer be avoided, Americans find themselves dipping into their life savings. In the most severe yet all too common cases, patients attempt to buy time by using credit cards or otherwise face medical debt and even bankruptcy.
Americans coming from middle- or lower-income backgrounds are hit hardest, disproportionately affected by out-of-pocket expenses and the consequences of an inability to pay. For these individuals, balancing basic living expenses with unforeseen health care needs can be devastating no matter how hard they work to make ends meet.
The HOPE Act is not a complicated overhaul of the health care system, nor is it a narrow program with eligibility restrictions. It's a straightforward, common-sense solution that empowers families to take control of their health care expenses in a financially responsible way.
As health care costs rise, it is essential for Congress to work toward solutions that not only address the immediate need for affordable care but also equip people from all walks of life with tools that prepare them for future challenges. The HOPE Act does just that, empowering over 100 million people to manage and protect their health. We already have momentum with an endorsement from the Problem Solvers Caucus, a 62-member group evenly split between Republicans and Democrats and committed to advancing solutions by finding common ground. It's time for our other House colleagues to follow suit.
While this solution alone may not completely solve the health care affordability crisis, it is certainly a step in the right direction. Times have seemingly never been more unpredictable. But the HOPE Act is an opportunity for Congress to come together, show bipartisanship, and provide the critical lifeline working families need to take their health, security and futures back into their own hands.
Rep. Blake Moore (R) represents Utah's 1st Congressional District and is a member of the Ways and Means Committee. Jimmy Panetta (D) represents California's 19th Congressional District and is a member of the Ways and Means Committee.