Mark Cuban Says ‘It’s Interesting’ Trump Administration Quietly Proposed a Form of UBI Through HSA Contributions, and ‘Nobody Noticed’

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban It is believed that the government may not be aware of the universal basic income version. And he thinks it came through an unexpected route: health savings accounts.

“I think that’s interesting [Trump] The administration proposed a UBI program, hidden behind direct HSA contributions, and no one noticed,” Cuban wrote in a recent post on X.

I think it’s interesting that the administration proposed a UBI program, hidden behind direct HSA contributions, and no one noticed.

Eligibles with annual HSA contributions of $3k or more can withdraw with a 20% penalty.

That’s $200 per month. Aka UBI, for anyone under…

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He said qualified individuals can receive up to $3,000 a year in tax-advantaged HSA contributions. If used for non-medical expenses, the fund incurs a 20% penalty, but that still equates to about $200 per month in available cash.

“Aka UBI, for anyone under the standard deduction or even paying zero tax because of child tax credits,” he added.

Cuban emphasized that the structure would serve as a soft safety net for low-income Americans, though it is not officially labeled as UBI. “I never thought we’d see a UBI proposal. But here we are!”

Still, he criticized the approach, writing, “I’m not a fan of HSA contributions because very little will actually be spent on health care.”

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Cuba’s comments sparked a debate. 2024 Libertarian Presidential Candidate Lars Mapstead Pushed back, it read, “The government is not depositing $3,000 into the account. Individuals or employers fund the HSA with their own money. Calling it UBI is new public spending, which is not happening,” he said. “The $200/month framing is misleading.”

Another person added that the HSA structure “misses a cruel design” and provides a comfortable benefit excluding about 40% of Americans. “It’s reverse welfare for the comfortable,” they said. The Cuban replied simply, “Wrong.”

Spine surgeon John Asgar He also challenged the idea. “Eligibility is limited, contribution caps remain low, and enrollment in a qualifying plan is required for access,” he said. “Funds must be pre-contributed and non-medical withdrawals trigger taxes and a 20 percent penalty.”