Employee HSA participation jumps to 83%: Report

There has been an increase in participation in Health Savings Accounts (HSA), as 83% of employees contributed to their accounts in 2025, up from 73.4% in 2024. That’s according to The Plan Sponsor Council of America’s (PSCA) 2026 Health Savings Account Survey. Despite the growth, only one-quarter of employers position HSAs as part of a long-term retirement savings strategy.

The annual survey of plan sponsors, sponsored by HSA Bank, also underscores the role of savings and investing activity among HSA participants. Average HSA balances reached $6,477 in 2025, while 22% of participants invested their HSA savings, up from 20.3% in 2024 and 18.9% in 2023. Meanwhile, 68.5% of employers now offer HSA investment options, a 12.8% increase from 2022.

“Health Savings Accounts are evolving from a healthcare spending vehicle into an important financial wellness and long-term retirement strategy,” says Hattie Greenan, director of research and communications at PSCA. “Employers are expanding support through contributions, automatic enrollment, investment options and decision-support tools. Our findings suggest many plan sponsors have an opportunity to help employees better understand the unique role HSAs can play in preparing for healthcare expenses in retirement.”

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The PSCA research found nearly two-thirds (65.5%) of employers cite employee education as the most common HSA concern, while just half provide HSA education only during open enrollment. Meanwhile, only one-quarter position HSAs as part of a retirement savings strategy for employees.

Additional findings from the 2026 Health Savings Account Survey include:

• Account contributions and balances: Average participant contributions reached $2,829 in 2025. The average account balance at the end of 2025 was $6,477.
• Employer contributions: More than three-quarters (77.2%) of employers surveyed contribute to employee HSAs. Among employers that contribute, 61.3% provide a set contribution based on coverage level, up from 54.9% in the prior year.
• Automatic enrollment: Nearly 46% of all organizations surveyed automatically enroll employees in an HSA when they enroll in an HSA-qualified health plan, up from 43.1% in 2024 and up from 35.1% five years ago.
• HSA rewards: Thirty-five percent of organizations reward employees for health and wellness program participation, up from 32% the year before.

This article was originally published on BenefitsPRO, a sister site of HR Executive. For more content like this delivered to your inbox, sign up for BenefitsPRO newsletters here.

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