New HSA Rules Just Made HELPcare Membership An Even Better Deal For 2026

By Lee Aase • January 2, 2026

If you have (or could get) a Health Savings Account (HSA), 2026 just made HELPcare membership a LOT more affordable.

In the old system, HSAs mostly sat there for deductibles and surprise bills.
In the new rules, you can use that same HSA money to cover your HELPcare membership.

That got our attention.

What changed on January 1?

Starting January 1, people with an HSA can use those pre-tax dollars to pay monthly membership dues for direct primary care (DPC) clinics like HELPcare Clinic.

The new tax law clarified two big things:

  • Direct primary care is not insurance 
  • DPC memberships are now HSA-qualified medical expenses up to:
    • $150 per month for an individual
    • $300 per month for a family

That means you can use your HSA to pay for most or all of your HELPcare membership.

Quick HSA refresher (in plain English)

An HSA is a special, tax-advantaged account you can use for medical expenses.

  • Money you put in an HSA is pre-tax
  • That reduces your taxable income 
  • You must be on a qualifying high-deductible health plan to contribute

Many employers already offer HSA plans. And in 2026, all Bronze plans on MNsure.org are HSA-compatible.

That means a lot more families in southern Minnesota can finally pair lower-cost, high-deductible insurance with predictable, membership-based primary care.

How much can you really save?

HELPcare Premier is normally $169/month.

If you pay with an HSA card, we knock $20/month off your dues.
Your new Premier rate: $149/month.

Now stack the tax savings:

  • At a 20% tax bracket, paying $149 with pre-tax HSA dollars saves you $29.80/month
  • Effective cost of Premier for you: $119.20/month

Same idea for HELPcare Basic:

  • Basic dues: $99/month
  • At a 20% tax rate, pre-tax HSA dollars effectively save you $19.80/month

That means you get most of the care you need, no surprise bills on office visits or over 100 lab tests, at a price many families are already paying in hidden copays and deductibles.

What to do now

If you have questions about using your HSA for HELPcare membership in 2026, or want to run your numbers:

Tell us you want to “use my HSA for HELPcare” and we’ll:

  1. Confirm how HSA payments would work for your situation 
  2. Help you understand your real, after-tax cost 
  3. Connect you (at no cost) with a licensed health insurance agent who knows HELPcare and can help you choose an HSA-compatible plan if you need one

If you’re ready to take charge of both your health and your health care costs, reach out today and ask about using your HSA for HELPcare membership.

Lee Aase

Lee Aase is the founder of HELPcare LLC, which provides comprehensive membership, marketing and management services for provider-owned HELPcare Clinics, as well as metabolic health education and coaching for people interested in restoring health and reversing disease through lifestyle changes. Lee and his wife Lisa live in Austin, MN and have six married children and 19 grandchildren.
Please sign in or register to post a reply.