HSA Break-Even Calculator

A Health Savings Account (HSA) comes with tax advantages, but pairing one with a high-deductible plan also exposes you to more upfront medical spending. This tool compares one year of costs under a high-deductible plan with an HSA against a traditional plan, at the medical spending you expect and at several other spending levels, so you can see where the balance tips.

Under the hood, both monthly premiums are multiplied by 12, and your HSA contributions are credited with a flat 30% tax saving (monthly contribution × 12 × 30%), counting contributions only up to the 2026 limit for the coverage you pick: $4,400 self-only or $8,750 family (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19). Out-of-pocket costs come from fixed plan assumptions rather than inputs. The high-deductible health plan (HDHP) has the 2026 minimum deductible, $1,700 self-only or $3,400 family, then 20% coinsurance up to the 2026 out-of-pocket maximum of $8,500 or $17,000. The traditional plan charges a $500 deductible ($1,000 family) and then 20% coinsurance, with no out-of-pocket cap. The winner, the costs at your expected spending and the cost table all use that same formula; the table shows each plan's net yearly cost at $0, $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, $5,000 and $8,000 of medical spending.

The comparison covers a single year and leaves out investment growth inside the HSA, which can add to its long-term value because earnings in the account are tax free and money you don't spend stays in the account (IRS Publication 969). Underestimating your medical spending cuts the other way, so check the higher-spending rows of the table before you decide.