OVERVIEW
Many employee benefits are subject to annual dollar limits that are periodically increased for inflation. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced cost-of-living adjustments to the annual dollar limits for various welfare and retirement plan limits for 2018. Although some of the limits will remain the same, many of the limits will increase for 2018.
The annual limits for the following commonly offered employee benefits will increase for 2018:
- High deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs);
- Health flexible spending accounts (FSAs);
- Transportation fringe benefit plans
ACTION STEPS
Employers should update their benefit plan designs for the new limits and also make sure that their plan administration will be consistent with the new limits in 2018. Employers may also want to communicate the new benefit plan limits to employees in connection with annual open enrollment.
HSA and HDHP Limits
| HSA Contribution Limit | |||
| Limit | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
| Self-only HDHP coverage | $3,400 | $3,450 | Up $50 |
| Family HDHP coverage | $6,750 | $6,900 | Up $150 |
| Catch-up contributions* | $1,000 | $1,000 | No change |
*Not adjusted for inflation
| HDHP Limits | ||||
| Limit | 2017 | 2018 | Change | |
| Minimum deductible | Self-only coverage | $1,300 | $1,350 | Up $50 |
| Family coverage | $2,600 | $2,700 | Up $100 | |
| Maximum out-of-pocket | Self-only coverage | $6,550 | $6,650 | Up $100 |
| Family coverage | $13,100 | $13,300 | Up $200 | |
FSA Benefits
| FSA Limits | |||
| Limit | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
| Health FSA (limit on employees’ pre-tax contributions) | $2,600 | $2,650 | Up $50 |
| Dependent care FSA (tax exclusion)* | $5,000 ($2,500 if married and filing taxes separately) | $5,000 ($2,500 if married and filing taxes separately) | No change |
*Not adjusted for inflation
Transportation Fringe Benefits
| Transportation Benefits | |||
| Limit (monthly limits) | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
| Transit pass and vanpooling (combined) | $255 | $260 | Up $5 |
| Parking | $255 | $260 | Up $5 |
Adoption Assistance Benefits
| Adoption Benefits | |||
| Limit | 2017 | 2018 | Change |
| Tax exclusion (employer-provided assistance) | $13,570 | $13,840 | Up $270 |
Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA)
| QSEHRA | ||||
| Limit | 2017 | 2018 | Change | |
| Payments and Reimbursements | Employee-only coverage | $4,950 | $5,050 | Up $100 |
| Family coverage | $10,000 | $10,250 | Up $250 | |
