HSA News for May 18, 2026
HSA news is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
News from Washington
White House Proposal Encourages Companies to Offer Fertility Treatment Benefits
A new proposed rule from the Department of Labor would create a new exempted insurance benefit for treating infertility, in the same category as dental and vision benefit coverage. Exempted benefits don’t have to meet certain requirements under the Affordable Care Act and other federal healthcare coverage laws.
CMS Pulls Back Limits on Non-Standard ACA Plans in Final Rule
The Trump administration has finalized annual regulations governing the Affordable Care Act's exchanges, including a plan that would pull back limits on non-standardized plan options offered by insurers. CMS is also finalizing updates to the cost-sharing parameters for bronze and catastrophic plans, a move it says will grant payers greater flexibility.
Industry News
Inspira Financial and Ameritas Bring Health Savings and Retirement Planning Closer Together
Inspira Financial and Ameritas announced an arrangement designed to expand access to HSA solutions for employers, advisors, and participants through the Ameritas retirement platform. Through this referral program, plan sponsors working with Ameritas will have access to Inspira Financial's HSA offering, helping organizations connect health and retirement benefits while supporting stronger financial outcomes for employees.
Best Practices
Part One: 10 Employer Hacks to Help Employees Build Their HSA Balances
Surveys show that workers expect their employer to help them improve their financial situation with a paycheck, benefits, education, and support that helps them keep more of what they earn, pay less in taxes, and prepare for the future. HSAs are the perfect opportunity to achieve each of these aims. Here’s how employers can deliver by designing better benefits offerings related to HSA-qualified plans and HSAs.
HSAs & Retirement
Retirement Savings Beyond a 401(k) Most People Overlook
Most Americans treat their 401(k) as a one-stop retirement plan, contribute what they can, and assume the job is done. That approach leaves thousands of dollars in potential tax savings unclaimed every year. The good news is that three widely available accounts offer distinct advantages your 401(k) simply cannot match. For example, a Health Savings Account may be the most powerful retirement savings vehicle in the entire tax code.
A $410,000 Retirement Account Most 401(k) Savers Completely Ignore
With a 401(k) already maxed and a backdoor Roth in place, where should the next tax-advantaged dollar go? The answer may be sitting inside your high-deductible health plan. Max the family HSA every year, pay current medical bills out of pocket from cash flow, and scan every receipt to cloud storage. Years later, those receipts become a permanent license to pull money out of the HSA tax-free, at any age.
HSAs Are Great for Taxes — but if You Inherit One, Here's How to Avoid an Unpleasant Surprise.
What happens to your HSA after you pass away? For spouses, it transfers tax-free as an HSA with the same tax benefits. But if the account transfers to a non-spouse, it loses its tax benefits and becomes taxable income. Heirs who inherit a large HSA could be pushed into the highest marginal tax bracket for the year they inherit. Here's how to avoid that.
Maximizing Your HSA
How One Family Saved Almost $9,000 in Taxes in 2025 with HSA Contributions
Under federal tax law, when both spouses are HSA-eligible, they must split the statutory maximum family contribution ($8,750 in 2026). They can split it as they wish, but they cannot contribute more than a combined $8,750 into their respective HSAs. Funding an HSA through an employer's Cafeteria Plan avoids federal income and payroll taxes.
9 HSA Mistakes That Drain the Account Before You Really Need It
HSAs are one of the rare financial tools that offer a triple tax advantage. Money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free, and can be withdrawn tax-free for qualified medical expenses. While the benefits are powerful, the rules are strict and not always intuitive. It's easy to use an HSA in a way that feels helpful in the moment but limits its long-term potential. Knowing how to use it strategically makes a big difference.
Our New Health Plan Offers an HSA. Is the Triple Tax Benefit Worth the Hassle of Saving Decades of Receipts?
Our new health plan is HSA-compatible. I know these accounts are great to have in retirement, but it seems like such a hassle. We are not the most organized couple and I worry we won't use it all. Is it worth it? Here's why it may be, even for people who loathe paperwork.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
11 Travel Essentials People Often Forget (And Your HSA Actually Covers)
Ever arrive at a beach town only to realize you forgot your prescription sunglasses or high-SPF sunblock? It can be frustrating and expensive. By leveraging your HSA, you can repurchase forgotten essentials using pre-tax dollars. Here are the most commonly forgotten travel items that are HSA-eligible, and the IRS rules you need to know.