(The Center Square)–With millions of Americans’ health insurance premiums projected to rise in 2026, due partially to enhanced Obamacare subsidies expiring, Republicans are eyeing health savings accounts as a solution.
“Both sides agree the cost of health care is too high. But sending billions of dollars to insurance companies while premiums continue to rise and the deficit continues to grow is not a solution,” Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a Wednesday hearing.
Crapo reiterated the general view of Republicans that renewing the enhanced Obamacare Premium Tax Credits, which are set to revert to original pre-pandemic levels on Dec. 31, will do nothing to address rising health care costs.
The taxpayer-funded PTC – established under the Affordable Care Act and temporarily expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic – is a subsidy that goes directly to health insurance companies, which use it to lower ACA marketplace enrollees’ monthly premiums.
Republicans argue the subsidies benefit insurers over patients, and that the expansion of the PTC led to increased fraud and inflated premiums.
President of Paragon Health Institute Brian Blase, whom Republicans called in as a witness, called the subsidies “ill-designed and inflationary.”
“More subsidies lock in a high-cost system and permit large insurers and hospital systems to remain inefficient,” Blase told lawmakers. “When enrollees pay only a small slice of the premium, or no premium at all, insurers face almost no price discipline. Insurers can raise premiums knowing that taxpayers will absorb almost all of the increase.”
He said the very structure of the subsidies – particularly with the COVID-19 additions that included 100% coverage of some enrollees’ monthly premiums and lifted the subsidy cap at four times the Federal Poverty Level – incentivize misreporting and fraud.
The Paragon Institute estimates that the number of ineligible enrollees in fully subsidized health insurance plans rose from an estimated 5 million to 6.4 million from 2024 to 2025, likely costing taxpayers $27 billion in 2025 alone.
“Extending temporary emergency subsidies would deepen a broken system instead of fixing it,” Blase said. “The enhanced subsidies have supercharged fraud, benefitted insurers more than patients, and increased taxpayer exposure.”
Instead of extending the enhanced PTC, Congress should expand health savings accounts (HSA) and allow for more flexible options by relaxing deductible thresholds, he said.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has pushed for lawmakers to explore replacing the PTC credits, which go directly to insurers, with HSAs or flexible savings accounts (FSA) that would give the money directly to patients.
He pointed out that under ACA’s medical loss ratio, insurance companies are allowed to use up to 20% of the subsidies for overhead expenses and profit, rather than towards direct medical care.
“Under the status quo that my colleagues are pushing, 20% is going to the insurance company for overhead and for profit – 80% for the health care that the insurance company believes that the patient needs,” Cassidy, a physician, said. “And under what we’re proposing, is that 100% of this goes to a patient-driven account – which she can use for a physician or dentist or drugs – 100% goes.”
If patients and families received the money directly, they could either subsidize the premiums of whatever insurance plan they choose, or use it to pay for health care services directly, depending on what form the savings accounts take.
Either way, this would increase patient choice and lower health insurance plan costs by driving competition among insurers in the marketplace, Cassidy argued.
But Democratic lawmakers, who shut down the federal government for 43 days over demands that the enhanced subsidies be renewed, say that allowing the temporary expansion of the subsidies to expire will force millions off their health insurance. It could also drive healthy people to leave the marketplace, spiking premiums for those remaining in the pool.
Jason Levitis from Urban Institute, whom committee Democrats tapped as a witness in the hearing, said that Congress should extend the enhanced PTC regardless of any other health care reforms.
“It’s certainly worth considering longer-term options to lower health care costs. Unfortunately, the calendar has overtaken the opportunity to implement such changes for 2026,” he said. “[P]utting in a place a new policy would require months or years of implementation time…At this point, the only feasible option is a clean extension of the existing enhancements.”
Cassidy responded that Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill has already established under law that people on Bronze plans are eligible for HSAs.
“I am asking that we move from our entrenched positions. Right now, it’s like trench warfare,” Cassidy said. “If a Republican proposes it, reflexively Democrats oppose, and vice versa.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.