f you're eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), consider taking a closer look at your contribution strategy. You may be able to reduce your 2026 taxes while strengthening your long-term financial security. Although many people use HSAs to pay current medical expenses, they can also help fund retirement.
Maximize tax savings
HSAs offer valuable tax advantages. Generally, contributions are pretax if made through payroll deductions or tax-deductible (without itemizing) if made directly to an HSA you establish yourself. Investment earnings grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals used for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
If you haven't reached the 2026 contribution limit, there's still time before year end. For 2026, you can contribute up to $4,400 for self-only coverage or $8,750 for family coverage, plus an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution if you're age 55 or older.
To be eligible to contribute, you generally must be covered by a qualifying high-deductible health plan (HDHP) and not be enrolled in Medicare or covered by certain other health plans. For 2026, an HDHP generally must have a minimum deductible of $1,700 for self-only coverage ($3,400 for family coverage) and maximum annual out-of-pocket expenses of $8,500 ($17,000 for family coverage). Beginning in 2026, HSA eligibility has expanded by generally treating bronze and catastrophic plans as HDHPs.
Think beyond medical expenses
An HSA can do more than help pay today's health care costs. If your financial situation allows, consider paying current qualified medical expenses out of pocket and leaving your HSA balance invested. Unused funds carry forward indefinitely and can continue growing on a tax-advantaged basis.
This strategy may also help build additional tax-advantaged retirement savings. After age 65, you may withdraw HSA funds for nonmedical expenses without the 20% penalty that generally applies to earlier nonqualified withdrawals, though you'll owe regular income tax on those distributions. Withdrawals used for qualified medical expenses remain tax-free, so tax-free HSA funds may be used to pay certain Medicare premiums and other eligible health care expenses during retirement.
Don't wait
Now is a good time to review whether you're making the most of your HSA. If your goal is to lower your taxes, prepare for future health care or supplement your retirement savings, we're here to assist you.