H.R. 5498, Small Business Health Options Awareness Act of 2026

August 25, 2026

Cost Estimate

As reported by the House Committee on Small Business on June 29, 2026

H.R. 5498, Small Business Health Options Awareness Act of 2026As reported by the House Committee on Small Business on June 29, 2026
By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars		2026	2026-2031	2026-2036
Direct Spending (Outlays)		0	0	0
Revenues		0	0	0
Increase or Decrease (-) in the Deficit		0	0	0
Spending Subject to Appropriation (Outlays)		0	1	not estimated
Increases net direct spending in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Statutory pay-as-you-go procedures apply?		No
	No	Mandate Effects
Increases on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2037?	No	Contains intergovernmental mandate?		No
	No	Contains private-sector mandate?		No

H.R. 5498 would direct the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide outreach and educational materials developed by the SBA and several other federal agencies on individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements to small businesses. Using information from the SBA, CBO expects that the agency would need one employee, at a cost of about $200,000 in 2027, to distribute the required materials. On that basis and accounting for anticipated inflation, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 5498 would cost $1 million over the 2026-2031 period. Any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Sean Christensen. The estimate was reviewed by Chad Chirico, Director of Budget Analysis.

Phillip L. Swagel Director, Congressional Budget Office

Phillip L. Swagel

Director, Congressional Budget Office