HSA News for March 23, 2026
HSA news is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
News from Washington
DOL Reverts to 5-Part Fiduciary Test After Retirement Security Rule is Struck Down
Shortly after final court judgments officially vacated the Biden-era 2024 final “Retirement Security Rule," the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration restored the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s five-part test for determining whether a person is an investment advice fiduciary.
Compliance Corner
You Drop from a Family Tier to Self-only. What Is Your Contribution Limit?
I switched to self-only coverage as of April 1. How much can I contribute to my HSA for 2026? You must prorate your 2026 contribution to your HSA. You do not have the option to use the “last month rule” because you will not be covered on a family plan as of December 1, 2026.
Can Employers Design an HSA-qualified HRA to Reimburse GLP-1 Drugs?
What can employers do if they want their workers to continue to receive or begin to experience the benefits of GLP-1 drugs as part of a weight-loss program without another diagnosis than diabetes? Companies can cover GLP-1 drugs through an HRA. The trick is to ensure that employees who contribute to an HSA remain eligible to do so.
Market Trends
Higher ACA Premiums Push More Marketplace Consumers Toward Bronze Health Plans
A growing number of consumers chose lower-premium Bronze plans even though those plans can mean significantly higher out-of-pocket costs, according to new analysis. The shift follows the expiration of enhanced federal premium subsidies at the end of 2025. New HSA eligibility may also be influencing the shift.
HSA Adoption Has Steadily Grown Over the Past 15 Years
Health Savings Accounts increased from just 6.3 million in 2011 to nearly 40 million by 2025. The number of Americans covered by an HSA account as of 2024 was almost 60 million, roughly 33 percent of privately insured individuals. HSA assets have also grown significantly, from just $3.4 billion in 2007 to over $200 billion projected by the end of 2027.
HSAs & Retirement
Some Medicare Households May Need $500,000 for Health Care in Retirement: Report
Some Medicare beneficiaries may need to have hundreds of thousands of dollars saved to cover health care costs in retirement, according to a recent report. For couples with very high prescription drug expenditures, the amount could approach $500,000. The report emphasizes Medicare was not designed to cover all health care expenses in retirement.
Fidelity: ‘Retirement Age’ No Longer Integral to Late-Career Plans
Working no longer has a clear expiration date, according to a new report. Instead of viewing retirement as a single, fixed milestone, many pre-retirees reported redefining it as a gradual transition shaped by affordability concerns, lifestyle goals and a desire to stay active and socially engaged.
Policy Experts See Trump Accounts as Future Hub for Rollovers
Trump accounts are set to launch in July, and many policy experts are already speculating on how they could be further integrated into the retirement system, such as using them to assist in account consolidation and to increase uptake of the Saver’s Match. Since people change jobs frequently, and Trump accounts follow the person, this could make them a natural landing spot for rollovers, especially involuntary rollovers.
Maximizing Your HSA
Your HSA and Your Tax Return: 4 Tips for Filing
As we get closer to the deadline for tax filing for 2025, here are a few tips and reminders about the HSA information you’ll need for your tax return. These will help you get organized and prepared for easy and successful filing. And remember that you still have time to add more to your HSA for 2025 if you haven't already contributed the maximum.
For Your (Tax) Health: The Underloved HSA
IRAs and 401(k)s, Roth or traditional, get all the hype. But another type of account has them beat on tax efficiency: the HSA. With their so-called “triple tax” benefits, HSAs may be the ultimate weapon against taxes, but they are sparingly used by all but a small set of investors.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
HDHP vs. PPO: Everything You Wish You Knew Before Picking a Health Plan
Choosing between an HDHP and a PPO is one of the most important financial decisions employees make each year, yet most people do it without the full picture. This guide breaks down how high deductible health insurance works, who it's a smart fit for, including real talk on costs, HSA benefits, and what families with high needs should watch out for.
Health Insurance Jargon Can Be Frustrating and Confusing – Here’s How to Navigate It
No one can know exactly what their health care needs will be in any given year, so people are forced to hedge their bets in choosing plans. What plan you pick has a huge impact on what you will end up paying. But many Americans don’t understand key health insurance terms. Understanding these terms can help you pick what plan might be the best for you.