Health Savings Accounts
What's a health savings account?
Health savings accounts (HSAs) allow you to set money aside for IRS-approved medical expenses. Think of it as a bank account just for healthcare expenses. To contribute to an HSA, you must have a qualified high-deductible health plan.
What are the benefits of an HSA?
- HSA contributions are tax free.
- You can use HSA money to pay copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
- HSA money never expires—even if you change jobs, change health plans, or retire.
- You can invest HSA money in a range of mutual funds, stocks, and bonds.
Your HSA experience
You
see your doctor for non-preventive services
Your doctor
submits the claim to us
We
process your claim
You pay
your portion using HSA funds
OR you pay
your portion out of pocket, keeping HSA funds intact
3 ways an HSA helps you save
Pre-tax funds deposited from your paycheck
Tax-free withdrawals for eligible healthcare expenses
Tax-free growth from interest earned and any earnings from investments
HSA contribution limits
2026
- Deductible minimum that qualifies for an HSA: $1,700 for individual; $3,400 for family
- Maximum out-of-pocket: $8,500 for individual; $17,000 for family
- HSA contribution limit: $4,400 for individual; $8,750 for family
- Catch-up contribution for 55+: $1,000 (unchanged from 2025)
2025
- Deductible minimum that qualifies for an HSA: $1,650 for individual; $3,300 for family
- Maximum out-of-pocket: $8,300 for individual; $16,600 for family
- HSA contribution limit: $4,300 for individual; $8,550 for family
- Catch-up contribution for 55+: $1,000 (unchanged from 2024)
Are you eligible for an HSA plan?
This is an IRS rule. You're eligible only if you answer NO to all of these questions:
- Are you claimed as a dependent on another person's taxes?
- Are you enrolled in Medicare?
- Have you received any Veterans Affairs health benefits in the last three months?
- Are you covered by your own or your spouse's flexible spending account (FSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), or a non-HSA health plan? Exceptions: limited-purpose FSA or post-deductible HRA.
How an HSA plan works
With an HSA plan, preventive services are covered in full. That means there is no out-of-pocket cost to you for qualified preventive services, screenings, and certain generic prescriptions.
You pay the full cost for nonpreventive care and prescriptions until you reach your plan-year deductible. After you meet your deductible, you pay a set coinsurance for covered services.
You can use tax-free money from your HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses—both before and after you meet your deductible. Premera pays 100 percent of covered services when you meet your out-of-pocket maximum.
For details about your plan's specific benefits, sign in and view your preventive benefits list, summary of benefits, and benefit booklet.