The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) introduces significant changes to the eligibility criteria for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Starting January 1, 2026, Bronze and Catastrophic plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will be reclassified as High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs), which is expected to allow millions more individuals to access HSAs. This change could increase the number of individuals eligible for HSAs to approximately 10 million, marking a significant expansion from the current low enrollment levels in HSA-eligible plans.

In 2025, only 2% of enrollees in the HealthCare.gov Marketplace opted for HSA-eligible plans, a decline from 7% in 2020. The new regulations will also expand eligibility for catastrophic plans, permitting individuals over 30 to qualify, which is anticipated to significantly boost enrollment. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has adjusted the catastrophic enrollment process, which is expected to add millions more to the HSA-eligible pool.

These initiatives aim to enhance marketplace coverage, affordability, and access to healthcare for Americans. By expanding plan eligibility and changing enrollment criteria, the administration seeks to ensure that more individuals can benefit from HSAs, which help consumers save for medical expenses. Overall, this policy shift represents a strategic effort to improve healthcare options for millions of Americans.

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