HSA News for July 13, 2026
HSA news is compiled weekly by Mr. HSA, Roy Ramthun.
News from Washington
HHS Secretary's Focus on Preventive Health Panel Provokes New Fears
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has his sights set on remaking another influential health panel, one that determines what preventive medical services insurers must cover for free. Neither Kennedy nor HHS has publicly offered an explanation of why they are changing the panel or what they think its role should be.
Compliance Corner
Does a Dependent Care FSA Disqualify Health Savings Account Contributions?
A Dependent Care FSA does not reimburse qualified medical expenses. Therefore, it is not disqualifying coverage. You can make an election to a Dependent Care FSA and reimburse qualified expenses tax-free without affecting your eligibility to open and fund a Health Savings Account.
Best Practices
How HSAs Can Help Organizations Stave Off $183B in Lost Productivity
Rising healthcare costs are fueling anxiety by employees, contributing to an estimated $183 billion in annual productivity losses for U.S. employers, according to one survey. Because employees often postpone or skip needed care to save money, better-designed benefits can help ease those financial pressures while improving access to care.
Market Trends
Obamacare Premiums Set for Another Double-Digit Jump
The cost of Obamacare coverage is due to rise by a median of 14% next year, according to a new analysis, marking the second straight year of double-digit premium increases in the individual market. Customers could be on the hook for thousands of more dollars in costs, worsening the health affordability crisis.
HSAs & Retirement
Study Reveals Medicare Comes With a $688,996 Price Tag for Retirees
According to a new report, an average 65-year-old couple retiring in 2026 can expect to pay Medicare premiums totaling $688,996 over their lifetimes, and when you factor in extra costs like hearing care, vision care, copays, deductibles, and dental care, the total cost ends up averaging $955,411.
A Retired Couple Faces a Six-Figure Healthcare Bill. Paying It From an HSA, Not an IRA, Keeps It From Taxing Their Social Security.
Pulling $40,000 from a traditional IRA to pay medical bills counts as ordinary income which may become taxable for Social Security and lead to higher Medicare premiums. The same $40,000 withdrawal out of an HSA for qualified medical expenses is tax-free and therefore not taxable for Social Security nor lead to higher Medicare premiums.
ACA Enrollment Just Dropped by 3 Million People - Here's What It Means If You're Retiring Before 65
The ACA is often the only coverage bridge between an employer health insurance plan and Medicare eligibility at age 65. Early retirees are also disproportionately exposed to an ACA "subsidy cliff" and they saw some of the steepest premium increases in 2026, so it's important to strategically shop for health insurance.
Maximizing Your HSA
Be Sure to Name a Beneficiary - and the Right One - to Inherit Your HSA
When you open an HSA, you should designate a beneficiary who will inherit the account or assets in the account after you die. You can change your HSA beneficiary as often as you like during your lifetime. Be sure to consider the tax consequences when you make this important decision. Only one person can inherit your HSA tax-free after you pass.
Consumer-Driven Healthcare
Cutting Back on Health Care Due to Rising Retirement Costs? 8 Strategies You Can Try
Medicare costs continue to climb. Medicare Part B premiums increased sharply in 2026, and some Medicare Advantage plans have reduced supplemental benefits. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce health care costs without sacrificing needed care, and prepare yourself financially for future unknowns.
Copay Assistance Is Meant to Defray Patient Drug Costs. Some Insurers Keep It Instead.
Many commercial health insurers use "copay accumulator programs" to keep funds that are meant to defray patients’ out-of-pocket costs for expensive specialty drugs. Over the past decade, more insurers have adopted such strategies to reduce their prescription drug costs, leaving patients to satisfy their plan cost-sharing requirements by themselves.