Understanding Health Savings Account-eligible plans
What are Health Savings Account-eligible plans?
One way to manage your health care expenses is to enroll in and open a
This is a type of savings account that allows you to set aside money from your paycheck (before taxes are deducted). The amount you contribute can then be used to help pay for certain medical costs, which also helps lower your taxable income when you file your federal income taxes.
To save money on health care costs through a Health Savings Account, you must enroll in a plan that is specifically eligible to be used with a Health Savings Account. You’ll pay a lower monthly premium and a higher deductible you must meet before the plan starts to cover medical costs. You can use the money from your Health Savings Account to help pay for services you get, including costs that count toward your plan’s deductible.
How Health Savings Account-eligible plans can lower your costs
- If you enroll in a Health Savings Account-eligible plan, you may pay a lower monthly premium but have a higher .
- If you have a Health Savings Account-eligible plan, you can use the money you put into your Health Savings Account to pay your plan’s deductible, , and(but not your plan’s monthly).
- If you don’t need many health care items and services, you may benefit from the lower monthly premium in a Health Savings Account-eligible plan.
- If you need more care, you’ll save by using the pre-tax money you put into your Health Savings Account to pay for it.
- Your Health Savings Account balance rolls over year to year, so you can build up the amount to pay for health care items and services you need later.
Health Savings Account-eligible plan costs
Health Savings Account-eligible plans must have both of these:
- Minimum deductible: This is the lowest deductible a Health Savings Account-eligible plan can offer, but plans often have a much higher deductible.
- Maximum out-of-pocket cost: This is the most you’d have to pay in the calendar year (after you meet the deductible) if you need more health services.
Plan deductibles can be as high as the maximum out-of-pocket cost. Get more information on Health Savings Account-eligible plans, including amounts, from the IRS.
