Open Enrollment Now: 2026 HSA Limits, 2026 ACA Affordability, and Simple Plan Design Wins

Use current figures and three low-cost plan moves to improve benefits value without overspending.

Open Enrollment Strategies for Small Businesses

Key takeaways

• Use the latest HSA contribution limits and ACA affordability percentage to set premiums.

• Seed HSAs for lower-paid roles to improve adoption.

• Promote EAP and virtual mental health and measure use.

• Simplify Paid Time Off and leave workflows.

Table of contents

1. Why this year's Open Enrollment matters

2. Key figures to use

3. Three low-cost plan wins

4. Employee communications kit

5. Mistakes to avoid

6. FAQs

7. Turn Insights Into Action

1) Why this enrollment matters

Open enrollment is an employee retention moment. This is the time of year when you can highlight all of the benefits and perks that you offer to your employees. Reminding them why you are their employer of choice. Clear plan choices and plain language increase perceived value and reduce the number of help tickets coming to your admin team.

2) Key figures to use

• HSA contribution limits for 2026: Individual $4,400. Family $8,750. Catch-up $1,000 at age 55+.

• ACA affordability for plan years starting in 2026: 9.96% of household income. Use safe harbors when setting employee premiums.

3) Three low-cost plan wins

1. Pair an HDHP (High Deductible Health Plan) with employer HSA (Health Savings Account). Consider funding (a.k.a. "seeding") a specified dollar amount into employee's HSA accounts every month.

2. Add or promote EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and virtual mental health (such as Calm, Headspace, or Rula). Track utilization and points of access.

3. Simplify PTO (Paid Time Off) with a one-page policy and a simple way for employees to request this time.

4) Employee communications kit

• One-page “what changed and why”

• Cost snapshot based on medical plan options

• 60-minute manager (or HR) Q&A with sample questions and answers

5) Mistakes to avoid

• Renewing on autopilot. Don't keep things the same just because. Take the time to review all plans each year.

• Announcing plan changes without a cost story. If you're going to have an increase in employee premiums, you must communicate the "why" and give a cost story.

• Leaving managers to interpret benefits without training. Use an expert to help facilitate these discussions.

6) FAQs

What are the 2026 HSA limits and who qualifies?

For 2026, the HSA limits are $4,400 for individual and $8,750 for family. Anyone age 55 or older can add a $1,000 catch-up. Employees must be enrolled in a qualified High Deductible Health Plan to contribute. Employer and employee amounts together cannot exceed the limit.

How do we set ACA affordability compliant premiums?

Pick one IRS safe harbor and run the math on your lowest-cost self-only plan.

• Rate of Pay example — 2026 affordability at 9.96 percent Hourly employee cap = Hourly rate × 130 hours × 9.96 percent.If the calculation returns 250, set the employee monthly premium at $250 or less and document the method in your renewal file.

  Sample math: 15.00 × 130 = 1,950. 1,950 × 0.0996 = $194.22 max employee share.

Can we afford an employer HSA contribution?

Yes, even small amounts move behavior. Consider $200 to $400 per year, funded per pay period. Pair the contribution with a short “how to use your HSA” guide to increase adoption and usage.

Should we switch to unlimited PTO?

Most small teams do better with a simple accrued plan and a clear approval process. Unlimited PTO can create ambiguity and uneven manager practices. If you keep accruals, simplify the policy and publish a one-page request flow.

Which low-cost benefits have the highest employee uptake?

Start with an EAP that includes short-term counseling, virtual urgent care, and tele-mental health. Add HSA or FSA, and consider a modest 401(k) match with automatic enrollment. Promote these with plain-language emails and a single-page summary during enrollment.

7) Turn Insights Into Action

Need a fast renewal strategy, HSA communications, and affordability math that fits your payroll?

The Avoir Company can help. View our list of services and book a free introductory call. Services can be customized based on your business needs.