What Happens to Unused HRA Funds: Complete Guide to Rollover Rules and Options

If you're a benefits broker, HR leader, or company executive interested in maximizing your health benefits while minding the bottom line, understanding what happens to unused HRA funds rollover is essential. Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are a tax-advantaged tool designed to empower employees and employers alike. However, many people wonder: Do unused HRA funds roll over to the next year, or are they simply forfeited? This guide provides a clear, up-to-date explanation of HRA rollover rules 2026 employer options, with practical takeaways for companies and employees seeking to get the most value out of their plans.

What Is an HRA, and Why Does Rollover Matter?

A Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is a type of employer-funded plan that reimburses employees for qualified medical expenses and health insurance premiums. Unlike Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), HRAs offer flexible designs and significant cost benefits for companies and their staff.

But here's the catch: Unlike HSAs, employees don't "own" the accounts; employers do. That makes HRA rollover rules a critical focus for plan administrators, brokers, and employees who want control over their benefits. The way an employer structures the plan can mean the difference between carrying over unused funds into the next plan year or losing them when time runs out.

Types of HRAs and Their Rollover Features

Understanding if and how unused funds are carried over depends on the HRA type and plan design:

Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA)

• Rollover: Employers have discretion to allow annual rollovers, set caps, or choose not to allow rollover at all.
• Contribution Limits: No federal maximums, so the employer sets the annual allowance.

Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA)

• Rollover: Rollovers are permitted up to federally set maximums for the year. If the previous year's rollover + new contributions would exceed the federal cap, the maximum limit applies.
• 2026 Limits: $6,450/year (individual), $13,100/year (family).

Excepted Benefit HRA (EBHRA)

• Rollover: Yearly rollovers allowed up to the annual limit.
• 2026 Limit: $2,200 (per employee per year).

Integrated HRAs

• Rollover: Employers decide if and how much can be rolled over. Many reset at year-end, but an annual rollover is possible if allowed in the plan.

2026 HRA and Health Account Contribution Limits

The IRS released updated contribution limits for 2026 through Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and Revenue Procedure 2025-19. Here's a comprehensive comparison of all health account limits for the current year:

2026 IRS Contribution Limits Comparison

Monthly QSEHRA Allowance Breakdown for 2026

How Employers Set HRA Rollover Rules for 2026

Employers have significant flexibility in setting HRA rollover rules for 2026. The key options include:

• Full Rollover: Employees can roll over all unused funds to the next year, up to any plan- or IRS-set limits.
• Partial Rollover: Only a portion of unused funds rolls over, either as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage.
• No Rollover ("Use It or Lose It"): Unused balances are forfeited at the end of the plan year.
• Caps: Some employers set maximum rollover balances, tying the rollover amount to deductibles or other plan features.
• Monthly vs. Annual: Some plans allow unused monthly allowances to roll over within a plan year, but not to the next year.
• Grace Periods: It's common to allow a "run-out" window (typically 90 days) after plan year-end for submitting claims on expenses incurred during the coverage period.

What Happens to Unused HRA Funds if Rollover Isn't Allowed?

If an employer chooses not to permit rollover, or if a plan's maximum rollover threshold is reached, unused amounts are normally forfeited back to the employer at the end of the plan year. Employees cannot "cash out" HRAs; unlike HSAs, the benefit is not portable or payable in cash, and it only covers eligible claims.

Employees can typically submit claims for eligible expenses up to a set grace period after year-end (commonly 90 days) or until their employment ends. Any amount left after this time is returned to the employer.

HRA vs. HSA vs. FSA Rollover Rules Comparison

HRA Fund Rollover Policies Explained

When designing an HRA, employers can tailor HRA fund rollover policies to fit business needs and workforce expectations:

• Consumer-Friendly Policies: Allowing rollover can foster satisfaction and prudent health-spending behavior.
• Cost Control: Forfeiture policies help companies control long-term costs by reclaiming unused balances.
• Transparency: Clear communication around rollover and forfeiture ensures employees don't miss out on eligible expenses.
• Integration with Other Benefits: HRAs can be designed to work alongside other benefit accounts, but rollover policies must be clear to avoid confusion.

Common Scenarios: What Actually Happens?

Full Annual Rollover

Every unused dollar up to the plan or legal cap becomes next year's allowance for out-of-pocket expenses.

Partial Rollover

Only a portion (e.g., 50% or $500 max) of an unused balance is added to the new year's allowance.

Forfeiture

Balances left unused by the deadline are returned to the employer.

Grace Period

Employees have a limited period after the year ends to submit past-year eligible claims using any remaining HRA funds.

What Happens to Unused HRA Funds When Employment Terminates?

• Forfeiture Is Common: Most often, unused HRA balances revert to the employer. No cash payout is allowed.
• COBRA Rules: If COBRA continuation coverage applies, a departing employee might continue using leftover HRA funds, but only for eligible expenses and usually only for the period COBRA is in effect.
• Death: If an employee dies, some plans allow a "spend-down" for eligible medical expenses incurred by dependents or spouses, but not a cash withdrawal or payout.

ICHRA Rollover Considerations for 2026

For employers offering Individual Coverage HRAs (ICHRAs), rollover policies require special attention:

With ICHRA, employers can set different rollover policies for different employee classes, provided the policy is applied consistently within each class.

Vendor Differences: Venteur vs. Other Platforms

Venteur stands apart in the HRA administration marketplace by prioritizing clear communication and flexible plan customization. Venteur empowers brokers and employers to easily set clear Unused HRA Funds Rollover or Forfeit policies through its user-friendly employer experience platform, ensuring that both HR leaders and employees always understand their options.

The employee experience is designed to help workers track their HRA balances, understand rollover rules, and submit claims efficiently. Whether serving startups, SMBs, or enterprise organizations, Venteur provides the technology and support to make HRA administration seamless.

Other vendors, such as Thatch, PeopleKeep, Take Command Health, Benefitbay, and more, may have distinct admin features or restrictions around how HRA rollovers are structured.

Pro Tip: Always review the platform's management tools and ensure the HRA documentation clearly explains rollover or forfeiture rules to workers and plan participants.

How to Make the Most of HRA Funds: Employer Tips

• Communicate Early and Clearly: Let employees know well in advance about rollover, grace period, and forfeiture rules, especially during annual enrollment.
• Offer Reminders: Send reminders as the end of the plan year approaches so nobody leaves money on the table.
• Set Thoughtful Policies: Consider allowing at least a partial rollover to encourage prudent healthcare decisions.
• Optimize For Efficiency: Work with tech-forward vendors (like Venteur) that offer transparent, customizable plan documentation and employee education.

2026 Eligible HRA Expenses Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

HRA rollover rules vary widely. Whether employees can keep unused HRA funds into the next year depends entirely on how the employer designs their HRA. Most plans require careful review by brokers, benefits leaders, and plan participants to avoid surprises. If maximizing employee satisfaction and healthcare outcomes is a top goal, forward-thinking platforms like Venteur make it easy to design HRA policies that inspire trust, empower choice, and protect health, now and for years to come.

Ready to future-proof your benefits? Visit Venteur to see how you can offer flexible, transparent, and employee-focused health benefits that meet the needs of today's workforce. Health systems and organizations of all sizes can benefit from Venteur's approach to modern benefits administration.