| News from Washington |
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| IRS Releases Health Savings Account Amounts for 2026 The IRS published the inflation-adjusted Health Savings Account contribution limits and high-deductible health plan requirements for 2026. All amounts showed modest increases over the amounts for 2025. Read More |
| IRS Announces Tax Relief for Taxpayers Impacted by Severe Winter Storms and Flooding in Virginia; Various Deadlines Postponed to November 3 The IRS announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in parts of Virginia affected by severe winter storms and flooding that began on February 10, 2025. These taxpayers now have until November 3, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns, make tax payments, and make 2024 contributions to IRAs and HSAs. Read More |
| CFPB, Trade Groups Ask Court to Drop the Medical Debt Rule The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and two trade groups have jointly asked a federal court to vacate a rule that would remove medical debts from credit reports. The CFPB sided with two trade groups that sued the agency in January claiming the rule exceeded the bureau’s authority. Read More |
| Compliance Corner |
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| You Meet Eligibility Requirements Mid-Month. Can You Open Your HSA Immediately? Can I become HSA-eligible at any time during the month? No. HSA eligibility is determined as of the first day of the month. If you meet all eligibility requirements on the first day of the month, you’re eligible for that month. You remain eligible for that month if you subsequently lose your eligibility later in the month, even as early as the second day. Read More |
| Can an HSA and HRA Be Paired Together? Employers offering a high-deductible health plan sometimes offer participants a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to buy down the deductible. The HRA design will determine whether HDHP participants can also maintain eligibility to contribute to an HSA. Read More |
| Can Companies Fund Employees’ HSAs Based on Claims? Good Concept – Wrong Account! Employers can help employees pay claims in proportion to their financial responsibility, but they cannot do so with an HSA. This approach is not permitted under federal tax law. There is, however, another way to achieve these goals by incorporating a second tax-advantaged account into the mix. Read More |
| HSA Industry News |
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| Thatch Launches Curated Health Marketplace, Teams With Function Health Thatch, a personalized health benefits platform for employers, has partnered with Function Health, a longevity-focused startup backed by celebrities and wellness experts. Thatch also unveiled the Thatch Marketplace—an ecosystem of health and wellness services that employees can access using their tax-free benefits balance. Read More |
| Ascensus Automates IRA, HSA Processing for Financial Institutions Ascensus LLC and fintech firm Janusea Inc. announced the launch of an integrated technology solution aimed at streamlining IRA and HSA administration for banks and credit unions. The integration connects Ascensus’ platform directly with financial institutions’ core systems, eliminating manual, dual entry of IRA and HSA transactions. Read More |
| HSA Best Practices |
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| Eight Ways to Make HSAs Work Better for More of Your People HSA-qualified plans are offered by 64% of all employers and 37% of covered employees are enrolled in one, but enrollment growth has leveled off over the past three years. It’s worth considering what you can do to make the HSA-eligible plan work better for more people – so that more people can benefit from the best savings vehicle out there. Here’s eight questions that could make your HSA plan better. Read More |
| HSAs & Retirement |
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| Employers Play a Critical Role in Retirement Readiness—Are You Doing Enough? Most employees underestimate their medical expenses in retirement. Employers can help by offering HSAs—but simply providing an HSA isn’t enough. Employees must understand how and why to save effectively. Innovative companies like Benegames are tackling this challenge, using gamification to make savings more engaging and actionable. Read More |
| Maximizing Your HSA |
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| 6 Funds to Add to Your HSA As you put together your 2025 financial checklist, consider checking whether you qualify for an HSA. If you do, and you’re saving for medical expenses in retirement, growth-oriented funds might make more sense. Here are six of the best funds to add to an HSA, if offered by your plan provider. Read More |
| Consumer-Driven Health Care |
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| 9 in 10 Americans Have Put Off Health Checkups, Life-Saving Screenings A recent survey reveals that most Americans put off getting a health checkup or screening that could help identify and treat serious illness early. Fear of bad news, personal embarrassment, inconvenience, logistical barriers, and distrust or dislike of doctors rank among the most common reasons. Cash incentives and loved ones’ encouragement continue to be effective in encouraging individuals to go to the doctor. Read More |
| What Exactly Is Preventive Healthcare? 9 Doctors Weigh In Preventive healthcare is a type of care you receive before you develop symptoms. It focuses on routine screenings, immunizations, physical exams and lifestyle counseling to maintain wellness and catch problems early. The goal is to help people live longer, healthier lives by reducing the risk of chronic diseases and complications. Read More |
| The Patient Expected a Free Checkup. The Bill Was $1,430. Carmen Aiken of Chicago made an appointment for an annual physical exam in July 2023, planning to get checked out and complete some blood work. The doctor recommended getting a Pap smear, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and encouraged the HPV vaccine. After exams, lab work, blood tests, and a vaccination, then the bill came. Read More |