Expansion of HSA Eligibility Under OBBB Act to Improve Marketplace Coverage, Affordability, and Access

Expansion of HSA Eligibility Under OBBB Act to Improve Marketplace Coverage, Affordability, and AccessThe White House report details major changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) to broaden Health Savings Account (HSA) eligibility.Key Points:Before OBBB, only certain High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) were HSA-eligible; catastrophic plans were excluded.By 2025, only 2% of Marketplace enrollees had HSA-eligible plans, down from 7% in 2020.Starting January 1, 2026, Bronze and Catastrophic Marketplace plans will be reclassified as HDHPs, making 7.3 million more Americans eligible for HSAs without changing plans.With CMS expanding eligibility for catastrophic plans (previously restricted to under-30s or hardship cases), enrollment is projected to rise by 3 million more people.Overall, an estimated 10 million new Americans could become eligible for HSAs under these reforms.Takeaway:The OBBB Act significantly expands access to HSAs, allowing millions of Americans to use tax-advantaged savings accounts while maintaining affordability and improving healthcare accessibility.