HSA News for January 5, 2026
HSA news is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
News from Washington
Will Health Savings Accounts Replace ACA Subsidies for Some Americans?
Health Savings Accounts aren't limited to consumers who get health insurance though the workplace. In 2026, consumers who pick a bronze or catastrophic-level Affordable Care Act plan can now use an HSA. Still unsettled is whether Congress will choose to fund HSAs for some consumers. Democrats and Republicans will likely spar over health care affordability when Congress resumes in January.
IRS Announces Tax Relief for Taxpayers Impacted by Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in the State of Washington
The IRS announced tax relief for individuals and businesses in the State of Washington affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began on December 9, 2025. These taxpayers now have until May 1, 2026, to file various federal individual and business tax returns, make tax payments, and contribute to their IRAs and HSAs.
IRS Sets 2026 Business Standard Mileage Rate at 72.5 Cents Per Mile, Up 2.5 Cents
The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, reflecting updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments.
How MAHA Could Grow Its Reach Through Health Savings Accounts
An administration flirting openly with new approaches to health care could expand the market for MAHA-backed products, using federal agencies’ sway over what qualifies as HSA spending. Some of the top officials at HHS have shown an especially open mind around expanding HSA use.
Compliance Corner
Your General Health FSA Disqualifies You from Funding a New HSA - Probably
My employer is offering a Health Savings Account option for the first time. We also have a general Health FSA. Does my having access to or enrolling in a general Health FSA disqualify me from opening and funding an HSA? Only enrolling in (but not access to) a general Health FSA disqualifies you from funding an HSA.
Your Company Can Claw Back a Contribution if You Were Never HSA-Eligible
After enrolling in my company’s HSA-qualified plan and making contributions through the company Cafeteria Plan, I subsequently realized that I was not HSA-eligible. Can my employer take the money back from my Health Savings Account? Yes. This is one of the situations in which an employer can claw back a contribution to an HSA.
Market Trends
HSAs Are Expanding. Some Expect A Surge in New Accounts
Starting in 2026, more Americans will have access to HSAs. Thanks to last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, more health-insurance plans from the Affordable Care Act marketplace fit the bill for HSA eligibility. Some experts estimated that the change could attract as many as 4 million new HSA participants.
HSA Changes Make Millions of Americans Newly Eligible for a Triple Tax Benefit
Starting in 2026, millions more Americans will become eligible to open and contribute to HSAs under provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Three groups of people are newly eligible for an HSA, bringing an additional 3 to 4 million Americans into HSAs, a significant increase for a market that already counts 40 million accounts holding nearly $160 billion.
Explosive Growth of Doctors Choosing Direct Primary Care
What was a niche aspect of medical care just a few years ago has exploded to thousands of practices across the country. In direct primary care, medical providers don’t take insurance. Instead, their patients pay a monthly subscription fee. In exchange they get easier access, longer appointments, and continuity of care from the same provider.
When HSA Dollars Enter Direct Primary Care, Control Follows
As of January 1, 2026, Health Savings Account funds can be used to pay for Direct Primary Care memberships. The HSA rule change does not simply make DPC more affordable. It transforms DPC from a care relationship into a financial product category. And once that shift occurs, control follows infrastructure.
HSAs & Retirement
Don't Have a 401(k)? Here Are 3 Other Retirement Savings Options You Can Look At in 2026.
If you don’t have a 401(k) available to you in 2026, you have other options for building a retirement nest egg. Here are three to look at. For example, although an HSA isn't a retirement account per se, HSAs can double as a retirement savings plan. And it pays to max yours out if you can, since these plans get even more flexible as you get older.
Maximizing Your HSA
3 Ways to Get More Out of Your HSA in 2026
Health Savings Accounts are a fantastic savings tool because they combine the benefits of traditional and Roth retirement accounts. If you're planning to participate in an HSA in 2026, it's important to make the most of that account. Here's how.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
6 Preventive Services Now Counted Toward Deductibles
While the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has expanded access to HSAs, it has also triggered a massive reclassification of what qualifies as “first-dollar” coverage. As of January 1, 2026, many services that were previously shielded from your deductible are being shifted into a “patient-responsibility” category until your annual spending limit is reached.