HSA News for March 2, 2026
HSA News is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
Compliance Corner
Mercer Projects 2027 HSA, HDHP, and Excepted Benefit HRA Figures
Mercer projects the 2027 inflation-adjusted amounts for HSAs, HDHPs, and excepted-benefit HRAs will increase from 2026 levels. A handy table below shows the projected HSA, HDHP, and excepted-benefit HRA amounts for 2027, along with the 2026 and 2025 values for comparison.
Prorate or Apply the Last-Month Rule? That Is the $4,400 or $8,750 Question.
When you become HSA-eligible during the year, you calculate your maximum contribution in one of two ways. Option 1: Use the pro-rata method. Option 2: Take advantage of the “Last-Month Rule.” Option 1 is safer because Option 2 involves some risk. But the reward could be worth it.
Industry News
Burst Raises $3M Seed to Unlock FSA and HSA Retail Spending
Burst, formerly known as Float, has raised $3M in total funding, including a $2.1M seed round led by Pear VC. Burst operates as a post-purchase solution, meaning retailers are not required to alter their existing payment stacks, checkout flows, or tooling.
Truemed Receives Validation Institute Certification for Highest Clinical Rigor in the HSA/FSA Marketplace
Truemed announced it has received independent certification from the Validation Institute. The certification confirms that Truemed has achieved the highest level of validation for clinical rigor and contractual integrity in the HSA/FSA marketplace.
Market Trends
HSAs Are ‘the New Flex’: Why Flexible Spending Is Getting Another Look in Benefits
After years of sitting on the sidelines of employee benefits packages, flexible spending is finally making its way into the center of benefit design conversations for 2026, with employers increasingly splitting budgets between traditional HSAs and taxable wellness or lifestyle accounts. According to several consultants, this suggests a fundamental rethink of who should decide what employees need.
5 Health Benefits Trends Employers Should Watch in 2026
As employer health care costs surge, employers are rethinking traditional cost sharing and turning to smarter plan design, integrated platforms, and value-based strategies to maintain affordability and access. Here are 5 emerging trends shaping the benefits landscape this year, and how employers can respond.
Hospital CEO Says Most ACA Exchange Patients Don't Pay Their Deductibles
According to one large hospital system CEO, most patients with ACA exchange plan coverage aren't actually paying much of the big out-of-pocket bills. Although fewer than 5% of the patients have been using exchange plans to pay for care, the amount of revenue collected per exchange plan enrollee has been low.
HSAs & Retirement
These Health Savings Account Pitfalls Could Cost You Thousands in Retirement
An HSA can be one of the most tax-advantaged tools available for retirement planning. Yet many people aren’t using it to its full potential. Common missteps can reduce its long-term value or even create unexpected tax bills down the road. Here are seven pitfalls to watch for, and what you should know to make the most of this often-overlooked account.
One Setback Could Derail Many Americans' Retirement Plans
A new survey finds that many Americans are just one unexpected expense, job disruption or healthcare event away from not reaching their retirement goals despite broad participation in savings and investment accounts. Healthcare readiness ranked among the weakest areas, highlighting limited preparation for medical and long-term care costs.
Healthcare in Retirement Could Cost You $172K. We Asked 11 Pros the Best Ways to Save
One in five Americans say they have not considered the cost of healthcare in retirement. That could be a costly mistake. Expect to spend $500 to $800 a month on Medicare premiums, supplemental coverage and prescriptions before anything even goes wrong. If you're eligible, HSAs are the single best tool available to help you save.
Why HSAs May Be the Missing Link Between Health and Retirement Planning
Originally introduced as a companion to high-deductible health plans, HSAs have typically been treated as a tax-efficient way to reimburse current medical expenses. Now a growing number of employers, providers and financial planners have begun to view them differently: not just as a tool to fund current healthcare expenses, but as a more tax efficient way to fund those expenses in retirement.
Maximizing Your HSA
It's 2026. Is It Too Late to Make Additional Contributions to My HSA for 2025?
You have the option of contributing to your HSA after the calendar year ends but only until the tax filing deadline for that calendar year (usually April 15). Adding contributions to your HSA will help you manage your financial responsibility for qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses that you have already incurred or will incur in the future.
What Is a Letter of Medical Necessity and When Do You Need One?
You may assume that all medical expenses are automatically covered by HSAs, health FSAs, and HRAs. However, certain expenses require additional documentation to be considered eligible. That’s where a letter of medical necessity comes in. This guide will explain what an LMN is, why it’s important, and how to obtain one.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
Consumer Price Index Isn’t Properly Accounting For Healthcare Costs
Critics say the Consumer Price Index fails to pick up the true impact of rising health care costs, such as increases in out-of-pocket spending by patients in the form of higher co-payments and deductibles.