For years, health insurance costs have already been increasing at more than double the rate of inflation. But even factoring in that trend, next year’s numbers seem like a prank. 

Employers have discretion about what's covered in their HRA plan, which is what makes them so useful. The company decides the annual limit, as well as specifications like whether to cover deductible expenses, post-deductible expenses, and/or over-the-counter expenses and services.