A Health Savings account (HSA) allows people to set aside their pre-tax money that can later be used to cover medical costs. Since the money grows tax-free, having an HSA can be financially beneficial. When signing up for health insurance, an individual must opt for a high-deductible health plan in order to open an HSA. With high-deductible health plans, a person needs to shell out more in out-of-pocket expenses under the plan before their insurance coverage begins.
The first change is related to access to telehealth and other similar services.
The OBBB has made permanent an HSA account holder’s “ability to receive telehealth and other remote care services,” even when they don’t meet high-deductible health plan requirements, while remaining eligible to contribute toward an HSA, the IRS said. This is effective for plan years that begin on or after Jan. 1, 2025.
The second change made by OBBB is that it treats Bronze and Catastrophic health plans as high-deductible health plans.
However, with the passage of the OBBB, bronze and catastrophic plans available through health insurance marketplaces are now considered “HSA-compatible” as of Jan. 1, 2026, the IRS said.
“This expands the ability of people enrolled in these plans to contribute to HSAs, which they generally have not been able to do in the past,” it said.
The third change made by the OBBB involves direct primary care service arrangements.
Before the OBBB was enacted, a person generally was not eligible to contribute to an HSA if they were enrolled in a direct primary care service arrangement, according to the notice.
Under OBBB provisions, from Jan. 1, 2026, an otherwise eligible individual enrolled in certain direct primary care service arrangements can contribute to an HSA, the IRS said, adding that they can use their HSA funds tax-free to pay periodic direct primary care fees.
The Treasury and the IRS have invited the public to comment on the notice. Comments must be submitted by March 6.