Tip # 718 - SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY!

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Long before Tip # 1 (2010), we (snail) mailed The Rauser Review newsletter. (Catchy title, huh?!)

Each RR included ‘A View from the Crow’s Nest’ predicting employee benefits trends. One CN column described our modest success selling Golden Rule MSAs; Medical Savings Accounts (aka Archer MSAs), authorized as a pilot program under HIPAA (1996).

That caught the attention of RR ‘subscriber’ Congressman Paul Ryan. He came to our office to learn more. (Truly!)

Next thing ya know, Republicans passed the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (December 8, 2003); i.e., the origin of the Medicare Part D Drug program. Tacked on to The Act; MSA’s became ‘permanent’ albeit renamed Health Savings Accounts.

In The World According to [Gore], credit moi for “inventing” HSAs, right?!

All this is front of mind because IRS released the HSA contribution limits for 2027 this week:

• $4,500* for those covered by an individual High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP of no less than $1,750*).

• $9,000* for a family. 

(* Corresponding limits in 2004: $2,600/$5,150, HDHP minimum $1,000. Original Fact Sheet HERE.)

BTW, today 59 million people have HSAs with over $159 billion in assets.

USPS tracking has been unable to locate my commission check!