Lively HSA Fees No Monthly Fee Official Checklist (2026) |

Verify you are enrolled in an HSA-qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

HSAs are only available to those with specific HDHP coverage. Contributing without one leads to IRS penalties and tax complications, making any account fee discussion irrelevant.

Confirm you are not also covered by a non-HDHP plan, like a spouse's traditional plan.

Being covered by a second, non-qualifying plan makes you ineligible for HSA contributions, regardless of your HDHP status. This is a common oversight for married couples.

Check that you are not enrolled in a general-purpose Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

A general-purpose FSA is considered 'other health coverage' that disqualifies you from HSA contributions. Some limited-purpose FSAs (dental/vision only) are allowed.

Determine if your HDHP coverage is for self-only or family.

This directly determines your 2026 contribution limit: $4,300 for self-only or $8,550 for family. Opening the correct account type avoids over-contribution fees.

Note if you will be 55 or older at any point during the 2026 tax year.

If yes, you are eligible for an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution. Lively's system should allow this, but you need to know your own limit.

Review your last year's tax return to see if you claimed the HSA deduction.

This establishes a baseline for your contributions and ensures you are consistently reporting HSA activity. Inconsistencies can trigger IRS audits.

Gather your HDHP plan documents, specifically the 'Summary of Benefits and Coverage'.

This document proves your deductible amounts meet the IRS HDHP minimums ($1,600 for self, $3,200 for family in 2025, expected to rise for 2026). Keep it for your records.

Visit Lively's official 'Pricing' page and screenshot the $0 monthly maintenance fee listing.

This is your primary source for the Lively HSA fees no monthly fee official claim. A screenshot provides dated proof of their advertised pricing structure.

Cross-reference the pricing page with Lively's support article titled 'Is Lively really free?'.

Their support page explicitly says 'For individuals and families, our HSA account is free.' Two independent official sources confirming the same fact reduces risk.

Confirm there is a $0 account opening fee and a $0 account closing fee.

Some providers charge to open or close an account. Lively's pricing page lists both as $0, which means you can switch providers later without a penalty.

Verify that inbound and outbound funds transfers (ACH) have no fee.

You may want to transfer money from your bank or roll over an old HSA. No transfer fees make consolidating accounts or adding funds cost-effective.

Check that ordering and using debit cards (up to 3) carries no point-of-sale fee.

Using your HSA debit card at a pharmacy or doctor's office should not incur a transaction fee. Lively lists this as $0.

Note the $0 excess contribution fee and $0 minimum balance fee for the cash account.

Accidentally over-contributing or letting your balance drop low won't trigger a fee from Lively, though the IRS may still penalize over-contributions.

Confirm manual reimbursement submissions (uploading receipts) are free.

Lively lists a $0 reimbursement fee. If you pay out-of-pocket and reimburse yourself later, there's no cost to submit and receive those funds.

Bookmark the official Lively pricing page URL for future reference.

Pricing can change. Having quick access to the official source lets you easily check if the Lively HSA fees no monthly fee official policy is still in effect next year.

Decide if you need the free cash-only HSA or want investment options.

The only recurring costs Lively shows are for investing. If you only need a place to hold cash for medical expenses, your account will remain completely free.

If investing, review the $24 annual fee for the Schwab brokerage account.

This fee is charged quarterly ($2 per month) for the ability to buy stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. It is the main potential cost for an individual account holder.

Check if maintaining a $3,000 minimum cash balance is feasible for you.

If you can keep $3,000 in your Lively cash account, the $24 Schwab brokerage annual fee is waived. Weigh the opportunity cost of leaving that cash uninvested.

Understand the 0.50% annual fee for the 'HSA Guided Portfolio' managed investing.

This is an optional service for hands-off investors. The fee is on top of the underlying fund expenses. Compare this cost to managing investments yourself in the brokerage.

If enrolling through work, ask HR if the plan uses Lively's employer pricing.

Employer plans have different pricing. While your account is still free, your employer may pay $2.95 per enrolled employee per month or be subject to a $200 monthly minimum.

Request a copy of the employer fee schedule from your HR or benefits manager.

This document shows exactly what your company pays. It confirms that your personal account remains free and clarifies any plan-specific features or costs.

Note that wire transfers or expedited services may incur a fee.

While standard ACH is free, special transaction requests like outgoing wire transfers often have a charge. Check Lively's fee schedule for these less common items.

During sign-up, explicitly decline the 'Guided Portfolio' service if you don't want it.

This managed investing service opts you into the 0.50% annual fee. You must actively decline it during application if you only want the free cash account or the self-directed brokerage.

Set up your contribution source as a direct bank transfer (ACH).

ACH transfers are free. Using a credit card or other method might incur a processing fee from a third party, even if Lively doesn't charge.

Program your contributions to stay within the 2026 limits ($4,300 self / $8,550 family).

While Lively doesn't charge an excess contribution fee, the IRS imposes a 6% penalty every year the excess remains. Automated contributions help avoid this.

If using the brokerage, set a calendar alert to check your cash balance quarterly.

If your cash balance drops below $3,000, the $24 annual Schwab fee will be charged. Regular checks let you move money to maintain the waiver if desired.

Download the Lively mobile app and enable notifications for any transactions.

Immediate alerts for any debit, fee, or transfer help you monitor account activity. Spotting an unexpected charge early makes resolution easier.

Link your Lively account to personal finance software like Mint or YNAB.

Tracking your HSA balance and transactions alongside your other accounts gives a complete financial picture and helps catch irregularities.

File your annual Lively tax form (Form 5498-SA) with your tax return.

Proper filing documents your contributions and proves you used an HSA-eligible account. This supports your tax deduction and avoids audit triggers.

Review your annual account statement line by line for any fee deductions.

Annually confirming that no monthly maintenance, transfer, or account fees were charged validates the Lively HSA fees no monthly fee official promise was kept.