Question 1

What is the official Lively HSA monthly fee for an individual in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The official Lively HSA monthly fee for an individual in 2026 is $0. Lively's pricing page explicitly states Monthly Maintenance: $0, Account Opening: $0, and Account Closing: $0. This makes it one of the few major HSA providers to offer a completely free core account, with no minimum balance requirement to avoid fees.

Question 2

Does Lively charge a monthly fee for family HSA coverage?

Accepted Answer

No, Lively does not charge a monthly fee for family HSA coverage. Their pricing is the same for both individual and family HSAs: $0 per month. This is important for families maximizing tax-advantaged healthcare savings, as some other providers charge higher fees for family accounts. The 2026 family contribution limit is $8,750, and Lively lets you save that entire amount without any account maintenance fees eroding your balance.

Question 3

I see a mention of a $200 monthly minimum for employers. Does this affect my personal HSA fee?

Accepted Answer

No, the $200 monthly minimum for employers does not affect your personal Lively HSA monthly fee. This is a pricing detail for businesses that offer Lively as a benefit. Employers pay $0.00 per employee per month (PEPM) but have a $200 monthly minimum spend. As an individual account holder, whether your employer sponsors the plan or you opened it yourself, your account maintenance fee remains $0. Your fees are only impacted if you choose to invest your HSA funds.

Question 4

What are the investment fees for a Lively HSA in 2026?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to invest your Lively HSA funds, optional fees apply. Access to the Schwab Health Savings Brokerage Account costs $24 per year, but this fee is waived if you maintain a $3,000 minimum cash balance in your Lively HSA. Alternatively, Lively offers a Guided Portfolio for a 0.50% annual fee. These fees are separate from the $0 monthly account maintenance fee and are common for the investment functionality.

Question 5

How does the Lively HSA monthly fee official 2026 compare to Fidelity?

Accepted Answer

Both Lively and Fidelity offer a $0 monthly account fee for individuals and families, making them the top two low-cost HSA providers for 2026. The main difference often lies in investment options and fees. While Lively uses Schwab and has the $24 annual investment access fee (waivable), Fidelity offers its own investment platform with no such fee. For someone focused purely on avoiding monthly maintenance charges, both are excellent choices.

Question 6

Are there any hidden fees with a Lively HSA, like for transfers or closing the account?

Accepted Answer

According to Lively's official 2026 pricing page, there are no hidden fees for core account activities. They list Funds Transfer (Out/In): $0 and Account Closing: $0. They also explicitly state there is no minimum balance fee and no excess contribution fee. This transparency addresses a common pain point of fear of unexpected charges, especially for those new to HSAs.

Question 7

If my employer offers Lively, will I be charged the $2.95 per month fee mentioned in some support articles?

Accepted Answer

No, you will not be charged that fee. The $2.95 per enrolled employee per month figure referenced in some Lively support articles is a cost paid by your employer, not by you as the employee. Your employer may absorb this cost or factor it into their benefits budget. Your direct experience with the Lively HSA monthly fee official 2026 remains $0 for account maintenance.

Question 8

Is the Lively cash account safe and does it earn interest?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the Lively HSA cash account is both interest-bearing and FDIC-insured. This means your contributions are safe and will earn a small amount of interest while held in cash, all without any monthly fee. This is a key feature for those who want to use their HSA as a short-term savings vehicle for eligible medical expenses before considering long-term investment strategies.

Question 9

What is the monthly cost to keep a Lively HSA open?

Accepted Answer

The monthly cost to keep a Lively HSA open is $0. There is no Monthly Maintenance fee for individual or family accounts. This is a standout feature that helps account holders maximize their savings.

Question 10

Does Lively charge a fee to open an HSA?

Accepted Answer

No, Lively does not charge a fee to open an HSA. Their pricing page lists Account Opening: $0. This removes a barrier to entry for people who are new to HSAs and may be hesitant due to upfront costs.

Question 11

Are there fees to transfer money into or out of a Lively HSA?

Accepted Answer

No, Lively does not charge fees for transferring funds into or out of the core HSA account. Their pricing page lists Funds Transfer (Out/In): $0. This is important for rollovers from other providers or for reimbursing yourself for eligible expenses.

Question 12

What happens to my fees if my account balance is very low?

Accepted Answer

Nothing happens. Lively has no minimum balance fee. You can have a $10 balance and still pay $0 in monthly maintenance fees. This is reassuring for those who might need to drain their HSA for a large medical expense.

Question 13

If I accidentally over-contribute, will Lively charge me a fee?

Accepted Answer

Lively specifically states on its pricing page that there is no excess contribution fee. However, you are still responsible for correcting excess contributions with the IRS to avoid tax penalties. Lively not charging a fee for the administrative task is a customer-friendly policy.

Question 14

How much does it cost to start investing my Lively HSA money?

Accepted Answer

To start investing through the Schwab brokerage account, there is a $24 annual fee. However, you can avoid this fee entirely by maintaining a $3,000 minimum cash balance within your Lively HSA. This allows you to invest any amount above that $3,000 threshold without the annual cost.

Question 15

What is the Lively Guided Portfolio and what does it cost?

Accepted Answer

The Lively Guided Portfolio is a managed investment option where Lively creates and rebalances a portfolio of ETFs for you. The cost for this service is 0.50% of your invested assets per year. This is an alternative to the self-directed Schwab account and its $24 annual fee.

Question 16

Can I avoid all investment fees with Lively?

Accepted Answer

You can avoid the $24 annual Schwab access fee by keeping $3,000 in cash. You cannot avoid the 0.50% fee if you use the Guided Portfolio. The only way to have a completely fee-free Lively HSA is to use only the cash account and not engage any investment services.

Question 17

Is there a minimum balance required to start investing?

Accepted Answer

Lively does not state a specific minimum investment balance to start using the Schwab account, aside from the $3,000 cash balance needed to waive the $24 fee. Other providers often require $1,000 or more before allowing investments, so Lively's structure can be more accessible for new savers.

Question 18

Are the investment fees deducted monthly or annually?

Accepted Answer

The $24 annual fee for the Schwab account is charged as a single yearly fee. The 0.50% fee for the Guided Portfolio is an annual fee, but it is likely calculated and deducted on a monthly or quarterly basis based on your average balance. These are separate from the $0 monthly account fee.

Question 19

My employer offers Lively. Does that change my personal fees?

Accepted Answer

No, your personal Lively HSA monthly fee remains $0. Employer sponsorship does not change the fee structure for the employee account holder. Your employer may pay Lively for administrative services, but that cost is not passed on to you as a monthly account fee.

Question 20

What does 'PEPM' mean on Lively's employer pricing page?

Accepted Answer

PEPM stands for 'Per Employee Per Month.' Lively lists its employer pricing as $0.00 PEPM, but with a $200 monthly minimum. This means an employer is billed $0 for each employee enrolled, but the total bill will be at least $200 per month. For a small company with 10 enrolled employees, the cost would still be $200 total.

Question 21

Why do some Lively support articles mention a $2.95 monthly fee per employee?

Accepted Answer

The $2.95 figure appears in the context of employer-plan pricing and likely represents a standard administrative fee that Lively charges businesses for services like payroll integration and employee management. This is the employer's cost, not an individual's Lively HSA monthly fee. It's critical to distinguish between business and consumer pricing pages.

Question 22

As an HR manager, how do I calculate my company's cost for offering Lively?

Accepted Answer

Calculate your cost by multiplying $0.00 by your number of enrolled employees. If that result is below $200, your cost is the $200 monthly minimum. For example, with 50 enrolled employees, your cost is $0 PEPM * 50 = $0, but due to the minimum, you pay $200 per month. With 100 employees, you would pay $0.

Question 23

If I leave my job, will my Lively HSA start charging me monthly fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Your Lively HSA is your personal account, regardless of employment status. The Lively HSA monthly fee official 2026 for individuals is $0, and this does not change when you separate from an employer. You can continue to use and contribute to the account on your own with the same $0 monthly fee.

Question 24

Is Lively truly the lowest-cost HSA provider?

Accepted Answer

Lively is tied with Fidelity for offering a $0 monthly account fee, which is the lowest possible cost for core account maintenance. Other major providers like HealthEquity or HSA Bank often charge between $2.50 and $3.95 per month unless you meet a high minimum balance. For pure account fees, Lively and Fidelity are the market leaders.

Question 25

How do Lively's 2026 fees impact my total contribution limit?

Accepted Answer

Because the Lively HSA monthly fee is $0, 100% of your contribution up to the 2026 limit ($4,400 self-only / $8,750 family) goes into your account. With a provider charging $3 per month, $36 of your annual contribution would be lost to fees before any growth or spending.

Question 26

Does having a $0 monthly fee affect my HDHP eligibility?

Accepted Answer

No, your HSA provider's fees have no bearing on your HDHP eligibility. To contribute to any HSA in 2026, you must be covered by an HDHP with a minimum deductible of $1,700 (self) or $3,400 (family). Lively's fee structure is a financial benefit but does not change the underlying IRS qualification rules.

Question 27

Should I choose Lively over Fidelity based on fees alone?

Accepted Answer

Based on the $0 monthly account fee, there is no difference. Your choice between Lively and Fidelity should consider other factors like investment options (Fidelity's platform may have no investment access fee), user interface, and customer service. For someone who will never invest their HSA funds, both are equally excellent from a fee perspective.

Question 28

Are there any scenarios where another provider might be cheaper than Lively?

Accepted Answer

Possibly for a very large cash balance. Some providers that charge a monthly fee offer a higher interest rate on cash balances. If your HSA cash balance is exceptionally high and you do not invest, the higher interest earned *might* offset the monthly fee. However, for most people, especially those with balances under $10,000, Lively's $0 monthly fee is almost always the cheaper option.

lively hsa monthly fee official 2026: Your Questions Answered

Lively HSA Account Fees and Pricing

Investing with a Lively HSA

Employer Plans and Business Pricing

Comparisons and Eligibility

Summary

Pro Tips

Quick Answers