HSA & HDHP Basics
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account you can use to pay for qualified medical expenses. To open and contribute to one, you must be enrolled in a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP). Each year the IRS updates three sets of numbers: how much you can contribute, the minimum deductible a plan needs to count as an HDHP, and the maximum out-of-pocket a qualifying plan can carry.
Why these numbers matter
Only a plan that meets the IRS HDHP deductible and out-of-pocket rules lets you fund an HSA. Before you assume a Bronze or Silver plan is HSA-eligible, confirm it's specifically labeled that way.
2027 HSA & HDHP Limits at a Glance
| 2027 | Self-Only | Family |
|---|---|---|
| HSA Contribution Limit | $4,500 | $9,000 |
| HDHP Minimum Deductible | $1,750 | $3,500 |
| HDHP Out-of-Pocket Maximum | $8,700 | $17,400 |
| Catch-Up Contribution (age 55+) | Additional $1,000 | |
Don't confuse the deductible numbers
The figures above are the minimum deductible a plan needs to qualify as an HDHP — not a maximum. A qualifying plan can have a higher deductible, but its out-of-pocket maximum can't exceed the IRS caps shown here.
2026 vs. 2027 — What Changed
Every limit rose for 2027. If you're budgeting an HSA contribution for the coming plan year, use the 2027 column; the 2026 figures apply to the current year.
| Provision | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSA Contribution — Self-Only | $4,400 | $4,500 | +$100 |
| HSA Contribution — Family | $8,750 | $9,000 | +$250 |
| HDHP Min. Deductible — Self-Only | $1,700 | $1,750 | +$50 |
| HDHP Min. Deductible — Family | $3,400 | $3,500 | +$100 |
| HDHP Out-of-Pocket Max — Self-Only | $8,500 | $8,700 | +$200 |
| HDHP Out-of-Pocket Max — Family | $17,000 | $17,400 | +$400 |
| Catch-Up Contribution (age 55+) | $1,000 | $1,000 | No change |
The Age 55+ Catch-Up Contribution
If you're 55 or older by the end of the year, you can contribute an extra $1,000 on top of the standard limit — so up to $5,500 for self-only coverage or $10,000 for family coverage in 2027. This catch-up amount is fixed by law and doesn't rise with inflation. Note that if both you and your spouse are 55 or older and want to make catch-up contributions, you each need your own HSA.
Who Can Contribute to an HSA?
You can open and fund an HSA only if all of the following are true:
You Qualify If…
- You're enrolled in a qualifying HDHP
- You have no other disqualifying health coverage
- You're not enrolled in Medicare
- You're not claimed as a dependent on someone else's return
The HSA Triple Tax Advantage
- Contributions are tax-deductible
- Funds grow tax-free
- Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free
- Unused balances roll over year to year — they're yours to keep
Medicare and HSAs don't mix
Once you enroll in any part of Medicare, you can no longer contribute to an HSA — though you can still spend down an existing balance tax-free. If you're approaching 65 and still working, this timing matters. See our Medicare overview.
A Note for Employers: Excepted-Benefit HRAs
Employers using an excepted-benefit HRA — a way to reimburse workers for copays, deductibles, and certain premiums — can reimburse up to $2,250 in 2027, up from $2,200 in 2026. This is a separate vehicle from the individual HSA rules above and is most relevant to small businesses shaping their benefits.
Not Sure Which Plans Are HSA-Eligible?
Not every Bronze or Silver plan qualifies for an HSA. I can help you find an HSA-eligible Marketplace plan in Texas and figure out how much you can contribute — at no cost to you.
Related Topics
Metallic Plan Levels
Bronze plans are often HSA-eligible
Learn moreCatastrophic Plans
Low-premium, high-deductible coverage
Learn moreIndividual & Family Plans
Find the right Marketplace plan
Learn moreFigures reflect IRS inflation-adjusted limits for the 2027 tax/plan year. Limits are updated annually; always confirm current figures before making contribution decisions. This page is educational and not tax advice.
