If you have low medical costs right now, it could be the prime time to supercharge a health savings account, or HSA — one of the smartest long-term moves for your money. You get an immediate tax break on every contribution, your savings grow completely tax-free and you can pull funds out of your HSA tax-free for qualified medical expenses anytime. Think of it as building a tax-advantaged health fund that keeps working for you even decades from now in retirement.
Here are some things you may not know about HSAs, as well as some strategies to make the most of these plans.
Unlike flexible-spending accounts (FSAs), which are generally subject to a "use-it-or-lose-it" rule, there is no time limit on when you can spend the funds in an HSA. You can use the money tax-free for medical expenses anytime, even after retirement. In fact, you’ll get a bigger benefit from an HSA if you use other cash to pay for current out-of-pocket medical bills and leave the money growing in the account for the long term.
An HSA offers a triple tax break: Your contributions are tax-deductible (or pretax if made through payroll deductions), the money grows tax-deferred and withdrawals used to pay for medical expenses are tax-free. With a 401(k), you’ll get a tax break for your contributions but then have to pay income taxes on withdrawals.
In fact, some people value the tax benefits of an HSA so much that they make funding the account a top priority. They first contribute enough to their 401(k) to get their employer match — after all, that’s free money — and then put in the maximum amount allowed in an HSA.
For 2026, the contribution limits for HSA accounts are $4,400 for individuals (self-only coverage) and $8,750 for family coverage. Also, individuals age 55 and older can make a catch-up contribution of $1,000, which is unchanged from previous years, regardless of coverage type. That brings the totals to $5,400 for self-only or $9,750 for family coverage for anyone over age 55.
These 2026 adjustments indicate the IRS's efforts to keep pace with inflation, which can help individuals save for medical expenses in a more tax-efficient way.
You’re not limited to a money market or other cash account in an HSA. Some people keep enough money to cover the current year’s deductible in a money market account — if they don’t have other cash to cover it — and then invest the rest in mutual funds to grow over the long term. Many banks, brokerage firms, and other HSA administrators offer a choice of mutual funds. See HSAsearch.com for a list.
Many employers try to steer workers to high-deductible health plans with HSAs, hoping it will encourage them to become better health care shoppers. Some employers even contribute to workers’ accounts or match employee contributions as an incentive.
Based on the most recent data from the 2025 Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits Survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP), the average employer contribution to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) was approximately $927 per account, among those employees receiving contributions in 2025. Your boss may contribute even more money if you participate in a wellness program.
You can contribute to an HSA as long as you have an HSA-eligible health insurance policy with a deductible of at least $1,700 for single (self-only) coverage or $3,400 for family coverage — whether you get your insurance from your employer or on your own. Keep in mind that contributions for the year can be made up to April 15 of the following year, and they're prorated if you're eligible for only part of the year. These minimum deductible thresholds are set by the IRS(pdf) for 2026.
Please note that this covers the minimum deductible needed for a plan to qualify as a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) eligible for HSA contributions.
By staying with your employer’s plan, you may even get some extra perks, such as an employer match, payroll deduction and access to certain HSA administrators. But if your employer doesn’t offer an HSA, or if its plan has high fees and few investing choices, you can open an account with any administrator. See HSASearch.com for a list of plans, features and costs. If your coverage changes mid-year or you have a COBRA or Marketplace plan, reach out to a tax advisor for confirmation.
Once you sign up for Medicare, you’re no longer allowed to contribute to an HSA. But you can still use the tax-free money for a wide range of medical bills, including deductibles, co-pays, and other medical expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, such as vision and dental care.
In 2026, HSA dollars can cover a chunk of long-term-care insurance premiums tax-free, based on your age — up to $1,860 if you’re 51–60, $4,960 if you’re 61–70, and as much as $6,200 if you’re over 70, per the IRS.
The money can be used to pay premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D prescription-drug coverage, or a Medicare Advantage plan (but not for Medigap premiums). And after age 65, you can pull money out for non-medical expenses without having to pay a 20% penalty, although you’ll have to pay income taxes on the withdrawals.
Some people who are still working at age 65 choose to delay signing up for Medicare Part A and Part B so they can continue making HSA contributions, especially if they get an employer match. However, you may not be able to delay Medicare enrollment if you work for an employer with fewer than 20 employees or if you sign up for Social Security and are automatically enrolled in Medicare.
Whether you have a self-only or a family health insurance policy, the money you save in an HSA may also be used for medical expenses for your spouse and current tax dependents.
You generally can’t stash money in both an HSA and a flexible spending account (FSA) in the same year, but more employers are starting to offer limited-purpose FSAs that cover only certain expenses, such as dental and vision costs. But the FSA must be specifically designated as an “HSA-compatible FSA.”
The money is tax-free only for dental and vision expenses until you reach your health insurance plan’s deductible. After that, you can transfer the money to a regular FSA, which can be used tax-free for any out-of-pocket medical expenses.
If you’re paying current medical expenses with cash rather than tapping your HSA account, hold onto the receipts and withdraw the money for those expenses tax-free at any time, even years in the future. Your insurer may even have an expense tracker that lets you upload your medical receipts and mark whether you paid the bill from your HSA or other sources, which you can use as evidence of payment later.
Final word
Health savings accounts (HSAs) deliver tax advantages unmatched by other savings plans, such as deductible contributions, tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses — forever. Funds roll over indefinitely, cover long-term care premiums and build wealth tax-free.
Plus, if you have an eligible plan, consider maxing out your HSA now. It's one of the best ways to protect your future health and finances. Talk to a tax advisor and start building that tax-advantaged health fund today.
