HSA News for December 8, 2025
HSA news is compiled by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
News from Washington
Trump Wants More Health Savings Accounts. A Catch: They Can’t Pay Insurance Premiums
President Donald Trump and some Republicans are pitching HSAs as an alternative to expiring enhanced federal subsidies that have lowered insurance premium payments for most Americans with Affordable Care Act coverage. But legal limits on how HSAs can and can’t be used are prompting doubts that expanding their use would benefit the mostly low-income people who rely on ACA plans.
Draft 2027 Medicare Regulations Could Ease Employer Drug Coverage Notice Rules
CMS could make life a little easier in 2027 for employers that offer HSAs, HRAs, or ICHRAs by exempting plan sponsors from having to tell health plan participants who are ages 65 or older whether they have creditable prescription drug coverage, according to a new set of draft Medicare plan regulations for 2027.
Compliance Corner
Aggregate? Embedded? How Does Deductible Design Affect HSA-Qualified Medical Plans?
Insurers have two options in designing family coverage deductibles--an aggregate deductible or an embedded deductible. Which is better? It depends. Families are never worse off and often fare better financially with an embedded deductible. However, that benefit comes at a cost—higher premiums—and potential loss of HSA eligibility.
Industry News
Webster Financial’s HSA Bank Subsidiary Acquires Emergency Savings Account Provider
HSA Bank has acquired SecureSave, a Milwaukee-based provider of employer-sponsored emergency savings accounts. HSA Bank plans to keep SecureSave’s platform in place and add it to its existing products. Terms of the deal, which closed December 4, were not disclosed.
Finally, the Wait Is Over. MaxHSA Launches!
Half of all HSAs have balances less than $500 at any given time. This means that too many HSA owners do not have adequate balances set aside to pay for an MRI, emergency-department visit, diagnostic colonoscopy, or inpatient service that is applied to the deductible. MaxHSA aims to change that by targeting HSA owners who have at least a vague understanding of the value of their account and want to contribute more.
MaxHSA and Avidia Health Announce Strategic Partnership to Help Increase HSA Deposits
MaxHSA announced a strategic partnership with Avidia Health to make MaxHSA’s innovative savings solution available to Avidia accountholders nationwide. The collaboration marks a major step in helping more Americans maximize their financial contributions to HSAs by rewarding everyday spending.
Best Practices
Rethinking HSAs in 2026: How HR Can Apply Consumer Finance Principles to Boost Benefits’ Value
Even though the eligible market for HSAs is now larger than ever, many employees underutilize these benefits due to pervasive confusion, siloed tools, and complex management. Looking ahead to next year, HR leaders should rethink their strategies through more of a consumer lens, and identify the channels, messages and behavioral insights that inspire action.
HSAs & Retirement
3 Strategies to Boost Your Retirement Plan Contributions in 2026
Here are some strategies to boost your retirement plan contributions in the new year. First, make sure you claim your full 401(k) employer match. Next, if you are eligible for an HSA, invest your money tax-free to cover healthcare costs in the future. Even better, a good number of employers make HSA contributions on workers' behalf. Check with yours today.
Maximizing Your HSA
HSA Limits Are Rising in 2026. Here's Why You Should Max Out if You Can.
In 2026, HSA limits are going to increase. And if you qualify for one of these accounts, it pays to max out your contributions if you can. HSAs let you invest money you aren't withdrawing right away. That means you can grow your balance into a larger sum by sitting back and doing nothing (other than choosing investments, of course).
Why Adding an FSA Makes an HSA Even Better
Just because you participate in an HSA doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the savings potential of an FSA. Limited purpose FSAs and combination FSAs are eligible to be paired with HDHPs and HSAs. Here are three reasons you should pair your HSA with a limited purpose FSA or combination FSA.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
A Financial Adviser's Health Journey Shows How the 'Pink Tax' Costs Women
The average American woman spends 18% ($266) more on health expenses than a man. That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up. It's part of a broader pattern you may know as the "pink tax." One way to protect your physical and financial well-being is to use an HSA or FSA to help offset these higher costs.
Guide To Choosing The Right Health Insurance For Chronic Illness
Millions are scrambling to pick health insurance plans that fit their specific needs. For women managing chronic illnesses, choosing the right plan is the difference between manageable care and medical chaos. Although there’s no “right” plan, there are “best” plans that can make dealing with chronic illnesses tolerable. An HSA and an FSA should also be considered. Women with chronic conditions tend to get more freedom from HSAs.