HSA Contribution Calculator

The 2026 caps are $4,400 for self-only HDHP coverage and $8,750 for family HDHP coverage. Account holders age 55 or older can add a $1,000 catch-up contribution. The catch-up is per eligible account holder, so two spouses who are both 55+ each need their own HSA to claim two catch-ups.

Yes. The HSA is bolted to the HDHP by statute. For 2026 a qualifying HDHP must have a minimum deductible of $1,700 self-only or $3,400 family, and total out-of-pocket maximums no higher than $8,500 self-only or $17,000 family. You also can't have disqualifying coverage (general-purpose FSA, Medicare, TRICARE, or a non-HDHP that covers you) and you can't be claimed as a dependent.

At the federal level, eligible contributions can be excluded or deducted, earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified medical withdrawals are tax-free. Payroll contributions through a Section 125 cafeteria plan can also avoid FICA, while direct contributions generally do not. State income-tax treatment varies, so confirm the rules that apply where you file.

An HSA requires an HDHP, the balance rolls over forever, you own the account, and you can invest it. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) doesn't require an HDHP, but it is use-it-or-lose-it: 2026 employer-permitted FSA carryover is capped at $680, and the rest of the unused balance is forfeited at year-end (or after the optional 2.5-month grace period). If you qualify for both, the HSA almost always wins on long-term math; the FSA is most useful when you can't get an HDHP.

If your medical expenses are low, yes. Pay current medical bills out of pocket, keep the receipts, and let the HSA invest. After age 65, withdrawals for non-medical use are taxed as ordinary income with no 20% penalty, so the HSA effectively becomes a Traditional IRA on top of its medical benefits. Decades-old receipts can also be reimbursed tax-free at any time, so the invested balance is still fully accessible for healthcare.