Compare HDHP + HSA vs PPO/HMO plans. Calculate your triple tax advantage and find the best health plan for your situation.
Compare your High Deductible Health Plan with HSA vs. traditional PPO/HMO coverage
Maximum HSA Contribution: $8,550
FICA (Social Security + Medicare): 7.65% automatically included
HDHP + HSA
PPO/HMO
Doctor visits, prescriptions, procedures, etc.
Based on your inputs:
HDHP + HSA Wins!
$6,616
/year savings
Plus: Withdrawals for medical expenses are tax-free (third tax advantage)
HDHP + HSA
PPO/HMO
Best Case (Low Medical Use)
Minimal medical expenses
+$6,616HDHP wins
Worst Case (Max Out-of-Pocket)
Major medical expenses
+$3,616HDHP wins
Key insight: HDHP has a $6,616 head start from premium savings, tax benefits, and employer HSA contribution.
Your $8,550 HSA contribution costs you only $4,934 after tax savings.
If you contribute $8,550/year:
$47,244
5 years
$107,541
10 years
$282,714
20 years
This calculator is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or medical advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making healthcare or financial decisions. Actual costs and savings may vary based on your specific plan details and circumstances.
Every dollar you contribute reduces your taxable income immediately. In a 24% tax bracket, a $8,550 contribution saves you $2,052 in taxes.
Your HSA investments grow completely tax-free. No capital gains tax, no dividend tax, nothing. All growth is yours to keep.
Withdraw money tax-free for medical expenses at any age. After 65, you can use it for anything (taxed like a traditional IRA).
Why HSAs are the only account with all three tax advantages
| Account Type | Tax-Deductible Contributions | Tax-Free Growth | Tax-Free Withdrawals |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Roth IRA | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Traditional 401(k) | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Taxable Brokerage | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Only the HSA gets all three checkmarks, making it the most tax-advantaged retirement account.
Pay medical expenses out-of-pocket and save receipts. Let your HSA grow invested for decades. Withdraw tax-free anytime using old receipts—there's no time limit! This turns your HSA into a stealth Roth IRA with higher contribution limits.
Don't leave your HSA in cash! Invest in low-cost index funds for long-term growth. With 30 years to retirement, $8,550/year at 7% becomes $866,000. In cash? Only $256,500. That's $609,500 left on the table.
Contribute the full annual amount in January instead of spreading throughout the year. This gives your money 12 extra months to grow. Over 30 years, front-loading adds $27,000+ to your balance.
Some employers contribute to your HSA (typically $500-1,500/year). Make sure you're maximizing this free money. Adjust your personal contribution so your total reaches the annual limit.
HSAs offer three tax benefits: 1) Tax-deductible contributions (reduces taxable income), 2) Tax-free growth (no taxes on investment gains), and 3) Tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses. No other account type offers all three benefits.
Yes! Most HSA providers allow you to invest your balance in mutual funds, ETFs, or index funds after maintaining a minimum cash balance (typically $1,000-2,000). Investing your HSA is crucial for retirement savings growth. Popular HSA providers with good investment options include Fidelity HSA and Lively.
For 2026, the HSA contribution limit is $4,300 for individual coverage and $8,550 for family coverage. If you're 55 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution ($5,300 individual, $9,550 family).
For retirement healthcare savings, HSAs are often better because you get a tax deduction when contributing (Roth IRAs don't offer this), plus tax-free growth and withdrawals for medical expenses. The upfront deduction makes HSAs more valuable for those in higher tax brackets. Best strategy: max out both!
The receipt strategy involves paying medical expenses out-of-pocket and saving receipts, while letting your HSA grow invested for decades. Since there's no time limit on HSA reimbursements, you can withdraw money tax-free years later using old receipts. This effectively turns your HSA into a stealth Roth IRA with higher contribution limits.
To contribute to an HSA, you must be enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), not enrolled in Medicare, not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return, and have no other health coverage. For 2026, an HDHP has a minimum deductible of $1,650 (individual) or $3,300 (family).
At 65, your HSA becomes even more flexible. You can still withdraw tax-free for medical expenses (including Medicare premiums), but you can also withdraw for any reason—you'll just pay income tax (no 20% penalty). This makes it as good as a traditional 401(k) for non-medical expenses, with the bonus medical expense option.
Fidelity estimates the average couple needs $315,000 for healthcare in retirement. This includes Medicare premiums, supplemental insurance, dental, vision, and out-of-pocket costs. A well-funded HSA can cover this entirely tax-free, while a 401(k) would cost 22%+ more after taxes.
It depends on your expected medical expenses. HDHPs typically have lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs. If you're generally healthy, an HDHP + HSA often saves money through premium savings and triple tax advantages. Use our calculator above to compare total annual costs for your specific situation.
Yes! If your HSA contributions are made through payroll deduction, they reduce your FICA taxes (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45% = 7.65%). This is a benefit that 401(k) and IRA contributions don't offer. A $8,550 contribution saves an extra $654 in FICA taxes on top of income tax savings.
Yes, many employers contribute to employee HSAs as a benefit. Employer contributions count toward your annual limit, so if your employer contributes $1,500 and the family limit is $8,550, you can only contribute $7,050 yourself. Our calculator accounts for this.
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