Duval Times

In a recent Senate session, Senator Rick Scott sought immediate passage of his bill, the Increasing Value for Families (IVF) with HSAs Act. The legislation aims to assist individuals and families in planning and paying for medical expenses such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). It proposes decoupling Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) from high-deductible health plans and doubling current HSA contribution limits from $4,300 to $8,600 for individuals and from $8,550 to $17,100 for families. However, Senate Democrats blocked the bill's passage.

Senator Scott emphasized his personal connection to IVF during his remarks: "I have been called many names, some nice and some not so nice over the years – Governor, Senator, husband, dad… but my favorite is grandpa to my seven beautiful grandkids. Right now, my daughter is using in vitro fertilization, or IVF, to grow her family. I support IVF 100%, and the truth about IVF is that it is one of the few unifying policies almost all Democrats and Republicans agree with."

Scott highlighted the broader implications of his bill: "The real world impact of my bill is that millions of Americans will be able to save more money in tax-free accounts to pay for medical expenses like IVF. If the Democrats and the Senate are serious about ensuring opportunities for families, we can start today by allowing this good bill to pass."

The legislation has a counterpart in the House of Representatives led by Representative Kat Cammack. Despite its blockage in the Senate, Scott remains determined: "I’ll keep fighting to get it passed the Senate, then sent to the House where I’m confident it will pass and we can send it to the President’s desk for signature."

Scott also referenced a recent ruling out of Alabama's Supreme Court which prompted swift legislative updates in Alabama to protect IVF access. He expressed hope that similar bipartisan support could be achieved at a federal level.