HSA News for May 4, 2026
HSA news is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
Compliance Corner
Sometimes, Proximity Matters. A Lot.
You will not hear or read about proximity in most discussions of services and products qualified for tax-free distribution from HSAs and notional health accounts. When you are considering reimbursing an expense that falls within a gray area, understand how to strengthen your case with a better LMN. And when you access virtual care below the deductible, be sure it meets the proximity requirement.
HSA Studies & Analysis
Securing HSAs with AI-driven Identity Verification: the Foundation of Account Takeover Fraud Protection
HSAs are an attractive target for fraudsters, and HSA providers must use automated methods to stop them before funds are lost. As cyberattacks become more automated, security programs must shift from reactive controls to instrumented, data-driven defenses. One of the most common attack classes where this matters most is account takeovers.
HSAs & Retirement
Worried About Healthcare Costs in Retirement? This Strategy Could Come to Your Rescue.
Healthcare costs are one of the biggest wild cards in retirement. They can also be extremely difficult to plan for because you don't know what your health will be. If you end up with chronic conditions or other issues, healthcare could easily become the biggest or one of your biggest retirement bills. But an HSA could make future healthcare costs much easier to manage.
Medicare vs. HSA: the Costly Mistake to Avoid at 65
Americans approaching Medicare eligibility face a critical and often misunderstood decision: when to stop contributing to an HSA. At the center of the confusion are competing timelines, including Medicare enrollment rules and HSA eligibility requirements. Here’s what older adults need to know about HSAs and Medicare.
Should You Enroll on Medicare at Age 65 Just to Avoid Future Part D Surcharges?
HSA owners with an upcoming 65th birthday face an important decision, and the decision isn't easy. The interplay of Social Security, Medicare Part A, and HSA contributions is one issue. Another is the prospect of paying Medicare prescription drug premium surcharges for the rest of their lives if they delay Medicare enrollment to add to their HSA balance.
Be Careful: Retiring at 60 With $1.6 Million Means Burning Through $420,000 Before Medicare Starts
Sixty years old, $1.6 million saved, and a plan to never punch a clock again. For many couples, that feels like the finish line. The problem is the five years between retirement and Medicare eligibility—the math during that stretch is brutal enough to derail an otherwise solid plan.
Maximizing Your HSA
How Much Should I Contribute to My HSA?
The short answer: As much as you’re able to (up to the IRS limits). If you’re covered by an HSA-eligible health plan, you can put as much as $4,400 into your HSA for 2026. If you’re on a family plan, the maximum is $8,750 for 2026. For those who are 55 or older, add an extra $1,000 annually for a total of $5,400, or $10,750 if both spouses are 55+.
How Workers Can Spend HSA and FSA Dollars to Support Their Mental Health
May is Mental Health Month, a great time to remind employees of all the ways their HSA or FSA applies to this area of wellness. When seeking in-person or telehealth therapy or counseling services, employees can use their accounts to cover copays, deductibles or coinsurance costs — whatever insurance doesn't cover.
Clear Eyed Advice About What to Do With an HSA After a Job Change
An HSA left to drift inside a high-fee employer custodian can quietly leak hundreds of dollars a year to administrative charges. Over a 20-year horizon, that could mean tens of thousands of dollars of forgone retirement medical money. Thankfully, HSAs are portable under federal law.