To be eligible to open and contribute to an HSA, you'll need to:
✅ Enroll in an HSA-eligible High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)
✅ Not have a disqualifying circumstance (see below)
What's an HSA-eligible HDHP?
An HDHP is a health insurance plan where you pay the full cost of healthcare, up to the deductible, before insurance coverage begins — with the exception of preventive care, which isn't subject to this requirement. This includes prescription drug costs as well.
The minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket limits are indexed annually for inflation. Here are the 2026 figures:
HDHP Details | Individual Plan | Family Plan |
Minimum Deductible | $1,700 | $3,400 |
Maximum Out-of-pocket | $8,500 | $17,000 |
Health plan providers usually identify eligible health plans as HSA-Eligible, but you can review your plan details to make sure!
What counts as preventive care?
Your HDHP may cover preventive care without a deductible, or with a lower deductible than the plan minimum. Preventive care includes, but isn't limited to:
Periodic health evaluations, including routine exams, tests, and diagnostic procedures
Routine prenatal and well-child care
Child and adult immunizations
Tobacco cessation programs
Obesity weight-loss programs
Screening services for cancer, heart and vascular disease, infectious disease, mental health conditions, substance abuse, metabolic/nutritional/endocrine conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, obstetric/gynecological conditions, pediatric conditions, and vision/hearing disorders
What counts as a disqualifying circumstance?
A few factors can make you fully or partially ineligible to contribute to an HSA.
You'll be fully ineligible if you:
Don't have an HSA-eligible HDHP
Are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B
Are covered by another health plan that isn't HSA-eligible
Are claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return
If your spouse has a non-eligible health plan but you aren't covered under it, you remain eligible to open an HSA and contribute up to the individual limit.
You'll be partially ineligible if you:
Become eligible after December 1
Become eligible and then experience a disqualifying circumstance mid-year (See Mid-year changes and your HSA contribution limit for the calculation.)
What happens with partial ineligibility?
You can apply the Last Month Rule and/or calculate a prorated contribution limit based on your specific circumstance.
Are HSAs mandatory?
No. Being covered by an HSA-eligible HDHP doesn't require you to open an HSA. However, doing so lets you contribute pre-tax dollars and pay for qualified medical expenses tax-free. All qualified medical expenses you incur from that point forward become eligible for reimbursement.
You'll need to watch out for disqualifying circumstances. If you're not disqualified for any reason, you can open an HSA as soon as you are eligible.
Can I have more than one HSA?
Yes. There's no limit on how many HSA accounts you can hold, as long as your combined total contributions across all accounts stay within the annual limit.