A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a tax-advantaged account that lets eligible individuals save and pay for qualified medical expenses. To contribute to an HSA, you must meet the IRS eligibility requirements and be enrolled in a qualifying High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
Who Qualifies for an HSA?
To be eligible to contribute to an HSA, you must:
- Be covered by an HSA-eligible High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) on the first day of the month.
- Not be enrolled in Medicare.
- Not have other disqualifying health coverage.
- Not be claimed as a dependent on another person's tax return.
Self-Only vs. Family HDHP Coverage
The type of HDHP coverage you have determines your annual HSA contribution limit:
- Self-only coverage covers just you.
- Family coverage covers you and at least one other eligible individual, such as a spouse or child.
HSA Contribution Limits
For tax year 2026, you can contribute up to:
- $4,400 with self-only HDHP coverage
- $8,750 with family HDHP coverage
For tax year 2025, you can contribute up to:
- $4,300 for self-only coverage
- $8,550 for family coverage
For tax year 2024, you can contribute up to:
- $4,150 for self-only coverage
- $8,300 for family coverage
For tax year 2023, you can contribute up to:
- $3,850 for self-only coverage
- $7,750 for family coverage
Catch-Up Contributions
If you're age 55 or older at any time during the tax year and are enrolled in an HSA-eligible HDHP, you can make an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution. This amount has not changed for 2026.
Family HSA Contribution Limit When Both Spouses Have HSAs
A common point of confusion occurs when one spouse has family HDHP coverage and both spouses maintain separate HSAs.
For 2026, if either spouse has family HDHP coverage and both spouses are HSA-eligible, the combined contribution limit for both spouses is $8,750, not $8,750 per person. The spouses can divide the family contribution limit between their HSAs in any way they choose. If they do not agree on a division, the limit is generally split equally.
For example, if you're covered under a family HDHP through your employer and your spouse opens an HSA through their employer to receive employer contributions, your combined HSA contributions for 2026 cannot exceed $8,750 (plus any eligible catch-up contributions).
Important Note About Catch-Up Contributions for Spouses
If both spouses are age 55 or older and eligible for catch-up contributions, each spouse must make their own $1,000 catch-up contribution to an HSA in their own name. One spouse cannot make both catch-up contributions to a single HSA.