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With HSAs, employers are turning to the 401(k) playbook
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- Employers are increasingly adopting automatic enrollment strategies for health savings accounts (HSAs), similar to those used in 401(k) plans, to boost employee participation and savings.
- HSAs offer significant tax advantages, including tax-free contributions, growth, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses, making them an attractive savings vehicle.
- In 2025, nearly 46% of employers automatically enrolled workers in HSAs when they signed up for high-deductible health plans, up from 32% in 2019, reflecting growing employer support.
- Most employers who auto-enroll employees in HSAs also contribute funds to these accounts, with about 77% providing contributions in 2025, often ranging between $500 and $1,350 or more.
- The use of high-deductible health plans paired with HSAs has risen sharply, with 31% of employers offering this combination in 2025, compared to just 4% in 2005, as a cost-containment strategy.
