Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The official monthly maintenance fee for an individual Lively HSA in 2026 is $0. Lively's pricing page explicitly lists $0 for account opening, monthly maintenance, account closing, funds transfer, and debit cards. Their support page confirms "For individuals and families, our HSA account is free." This fee-free structure applies as long as you open the account directly as an individual, not through an employer-sponsored plan.

Question 2

Are there any hidden fees with a Lively HSA for individuals?

Accepted Answer

For the basic cash account, there are no hidden monthly or maintenance fees. However, fees apply if you use their investment options. The self-directed Schwab investing option has a $24 annual fee, waived if you maintain a $3,000 minimum balance in your HSA cash account. The HSA Guided Portfolio by Devenir charges a 0.50% annual management fee, billed quarterly. There are no fees for excess contributions or minimum balances on the cash side.

Question 3

How much does a Lively HSA cost for employers?

Accepted Answer

For employer-sponsored plans, Lively charges a business fee of $2.95 per enrolled employee per month. There is also a $200 monthly minimum for employers. This is distinct from the individual fee structure and is the main way Lively generates revenue. If you access your HSA through your job, your employer likely pays this fee, but you should confirm as it could affect your benefits package.

Question 4

How does Lively's $0 monthly fee compare to Fidelity and HSA Bank?

Accepted Answer

Lively and Fidelity both offer $0 monthly maintenance fees for individual accounts. HSA Bank typically charges a $2.50 monthly fee, which can be waived by maintaining a minimum balance of $5,000 or more in your account. For employer plans, Fidelity often remains fee-free for businesses, while Lively charges the $2.95 per employee monthly fee with a $200 minimum. The choice often comes down to investment options and interface preference.

Question 5

What is the $24 annual Schwab investment fee and how can I avoid it?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to invest your HSA funds through Lively's self-directed Schwab brokerage window, a $24 annual fee applies. You can avoid this fee entirely by keeping a minimum balance of $3,000 in your Lively HSA cash account. This cash acts as a waiver. There is no minimum to start investing, but if your cash balance drops below $3,000 at the time the fee is assessed, you will be charged the $24.

Question 6

Does Lively charge fees for debit cards, transfers, or closing the account?

Accepted Answer

No. Based on their official pricing, Lively charges $0 for issuing up to three debit cards, for internal or external funds transfers, and for closing your HSA account. They also list a $0 fee for excess contributions, which is important for people who accidentally over-contribute and need to fix it to avoid IRS penalties.

Question 7

Is the Lively HSA truly free for everyone?

Accepted Answer

No, it is free specifically for individuals and families who open an account directly. Employer-sponsored plans have a different fee structure of $2.95 per employee per month with a $200 minimum. The basic cash account is free, but optional investment services have separate costs like the $24 annual Schwab fee or the 0.50% managed portfolio fee.

Question 8

What does the 'monthly maintenance fee' cover?

Accepted Answer

This fee covers the basic administration of your HSA cash account: statement generation, online access, customer support, and debit card provisioning. Lively charges $0 for this. It does not cover the costs of optional investment account management or transaction fees charged by underlying fund companies if you invest.

Question 9

Are there any transaction fees I should know about?

Accepted Answer

Lively does not charge fees for buying or selling investments within the Schwab window, but the underlying ETFs or mutual funds have their own expense ratios. There are no fees for using your debit card for eligible medical purchases, transferring money between your Lively cash and investment accounts, or moving funds in or out via ACH.

Question 10

Does Lively charge an account inactivity fee?

Accepted Answer

Lively's official pricing page does not list an account inactivity or dormancy fee. Their $0 fee pledge includes no charges for simply holding the account with a low balance, unlike some banks that charge if you do not use the debit card or have no transactions for a period.

Question 11

What happens to fees if my HDHP coverage changes?

Accepted Answer

Your Lively HSA fee structure is tied to how the account was opened, not your current insurance status. If you opened it as an individual, you keep the $0 monthly fee even if you later get employer coverage or lose your HDHP. You just cannot make new contributions if you are no longer HSA-eligible.

Question 12

What is the difference between the Schwab and Devenir investment options?

Accepted Answer

The Schwab option is a self-directed brokerage window where you choose your own stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. It has a $24 annual fee (waivable with $3,000 cash). The Devenir Guided Portfolio is a managed service where Devenir builds and rebalances a portfolio for you, charging a 0.50% annual advisory fee on your invested balance.

Question 13

Is there a minimum balance to start investing with Lively?

Accepted Answer

Lively states there is no minimum balance required to start investing. You can transfer funds from your cash account to your investment account at any amount. However, to avoid the $24 annual fee on the Schwab side, you need to maintain that separate $3,000 minimum in your cash account.

Question 14

How is the 0.50% Devenir management fee calculated and charged?

Accepted Answer

The 0.50% annual fee is calculated based on your average daily balance in the Guided Portfolio over the quarter. It is then deducted from your HSA cash account quarterly. For example, if you have $10,000 invested, the annual fee would be $50, and roughly $12.50 would be deducted from your cash each quarter.

Question 15

Can I avoid investment fees by not investing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you only use the HSA as a savings account for near-term medical expenses and do not link an investment account, you will pay $0 in fees beyond the $0 monthly maintenance. Your money will earn a small interest rate in the cash account, but it will not have growth potential from the market.

Question 16

If I have the $3,000 cash to waive the Schwab fee, should I still invest that money?

Accepted Answer

No, you should not invest that specific $3,000 if your goal is to avoid the fee. The waiver requires the funds to be in the cash account. Think of it as the cost of having access to the investment platform. You would invest any contributions above that $3,000 threshold for long-term growth.

Question 17

Why does Lively charge employers but not individuals?

Accepted Answer

Lively uses a business-to-business (B2B) model for revenue. They charge employers for the administrative services, payroll integration, and dedicated support that come with a group plan. The individual market is likely used for customer acquisition and scale, with the hope users will invest and generate fees or that their employers will later adopt Lively.

Question 18

As an employee, will I see the $2.95 monthly fee on my statement?

Accepted Answer

Typically, no. The employer usually pays this fee as part of the benefits administration cost. It should not be deducted from your personal HSA balance. However, you should check your plan documents or ask HR, as some employers may pass on administrative fees to employees, though this is not common with Lively's stated model.

Question 19

Can I transfer an employer-sponsored Lively HSA to a personal one to avoid fees?

Accepted Answer

You cannot transfer an active employer-sponsored plan while you are still employed and contributing via payroll. If you leave the job, you can do a trustee-to-trustee transfer of the full balance to an individual Lively HSA you open yourself, which would then have the $0 monthly fee structure. There is no fee for this transfer.

Question 20

How does the $200 employer monthly minimum work?

Accepted Answer

This means an employer's total monthly bill is calculated as $2.95 per enrolled employee OR $200, whichever is higher. For a company with 50 enrolled employees, the monthly cost would be $147.50, but they would be billed the $200 minimum. This makes Lively less cost-effective for very small businesses compared to fee-free provider options.

Question 21

Should I ask my HR department to switch to Lively?

Accepted Answer

If you appreciate Lively's user interface and investment options, it could be worth suggesting. However, present a full comparison. Note that while individual fees are $0, the employer cost of $2.95 per employee with a $200 minimum may be higher than their current provider, like Fidelity which charges employers $0. The decision involves total cost and administrative features.

lively hsa monthly fee official: Your Questions Answered

Understanding Lively's Fee Structure

Investment Fees and Minimums

Employer Plan vs. Individual Account

Summary

Pro Tips

Quick Answers

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

Are there any hidden fees with a Lively HSA for individuals?

How much does a Lively HSA cost for employers?

How does Lively's $0 monthly fee compare to Fidelity and HSA Bank?

What is the $24 annual Schwab investment fee and how can I avoid it?

Does Lively charge fees for debit cards, transfers, or closing the account?

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