How much to put in an HSA for 2027

The 2027 numbers

The 2027 HSA and HDHP limits

The IRS published the 2027 figures in Revenue Procedure 2026-24 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24). The 2026 figures are shown for comparison (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19; IRS Publication 15-B).

The $1,000 catch-up is set in the tax code and is not adjusted for inflation (IRS Publication 969).

Before you pick a number

First, confirm you can contribute at all

You can contribute to an HSA for a month only if, on the first day of that month, you are covered by an HSA-eligible high deductible health plan and do not have other coverage that disqualifies you. You also cannot be enrolled in Medicare or be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return (IRS Publication 969).

The most common things that block contributions:

• 1
  A general-purpose health FSA, including a spouse's FSA that can reimburse your costs. A limited-purpose FSA, usually for dental and vision, is allowed.
• 2
  Medicare enrollment, including Part A. Our guide to the HSA rules people get wrong covers what happens near 65.
• 3
  A plan that is not actually HSA-eligible. "High deductible" in a plan's name does not guarantee it meets the IRS rules. Your benefits guide should say which plans qualify.

Three newer rules widen eligibility. Telehealth coverage before the deductible no longer disqualifies you. Starting in 2026, bronze and catastrophic plans available through an Exchange are treated as HSA-eligible. And certain direct primary care arrangements are allowed if the fees stay within $150 a month for one person or $300 for more than one in 2027 (IRS Notice 2026-5; Rev. Proc. 2026-24). See are Bronze and Catastrophic plans HSA eligible?.

Employer money

Subtract your employer's contribution first

Money your employer puts into your HSA counts toward the same annual limit. So does money you contribute through payroll (IRS Publication 969).

If your employer deposits $1,000 into a self-only HSA for 2027, your own room is $4,500 − $1,000 = $3,500. On a family plan with the same deposit, it is $9,000 − $1,000 = $8,000. Our guide to employer HSA contributions and your annual limit has a worksheet for this, including employer matches and wellness deposits.

If your employer matches your contributions, find out the match formula before you pick an amount. Contributing at least enough to get the full match is the simplest place to start.

Picking your number

Three ways to pick your amount

Most people land on one of three approaches. They are not mutually exclusive, and you can change your payroll contribution during the year, which is a key difference from an FSA.

1. Cover the care you expect

Add up what you expect to pay out of pocket in 2027: prescriptions, regular visits, and the part of your deductible you expect to reach. Contribute at least that much, minus any employer deposit. The money goes in before tax and comes back out tax-free when you use it for qualified medical expenses.

2. Build a cushion up to your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum

An HSA-eligible plan has a higher deductible on purpose. A balance that covers your deductible, or ideally your out-of-pocket maximum, means a bad year does not land on a credit card. Unspent money stays in the account and carries over each year (IRS Publication 969). Many people build this cushion over several years rather than one.

3. Contribute the maximum

If your budget allows it, contributing the full limit uses the account's full tax treatment. Many HSA providers let you invest part of the balance, sometimes above a minimum cash amount, and the account stays yours if you change jobs or leave the workforce. Whether this makes sense depends on the rest of your finances. Emergency savings and an employer 401(k) match are often weighed first. Our 401(k) match checker helps with that part.

A worked example

A worked example per paycheck

These numbers are illustrative.

Say you have self-only coverage, you are paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), and your employer deposits $750 in 2027.

• 1
  Your room for 2027: $4,500 − $750 = $3,750.
• 2
  To reach the limit evenly: $3,750 ÷ 26 = about $144.23 per paycheck.
• 3
  If you only want to cover a $1,750 deductible, minus the employer's $750: $1,000 ÷ 26 = about $38.46 per paycheck.

If you are 55 or older at the end of 2027, you can add up to $1,000 more on top of the limit.

Why payroll

Payroll or direct deposit?

You can contribute through your employer's payroll or directly to your HSA provider. Both lower your federal income tax. Payroll contributions made through a cafeteria plan are treated as employer contributions (IRS Publication 969), which are generally also exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes (IRS Publication 15-B). Direct contributions are deducted on your tax return instead, and do not get that payroll tax treatment. State tax treatment varies, so check your state.

You can contribute for 2027 until the federal tax filing deadline in 2028, generally April 15 (IRS Publication 969).

Edge cases

Situations that change the limit

• 1
  You are eligible for only part of 2027. The limit is generally prorated by month. A last-month rule can let you contribute the full amount if you are eligible on December 1, but you must stay eligible through a testing period that runs through the end of the following year, or some of the contribution becomes taxable (IRS Publication 969).
• 2
  You are married. If either spouse has family HDHP coverage, both are treated as having family coverage and share the family limit. Each spouse who is 55 or older can make a $1,000 catch-up, but only into their own HSA (IRS Publication 969). See adding a spouse to your health insurance.
• 3
  Your plan year is not the calendar year. The HSA limit follows the calendar (tax) year, even if your health plan renews in, say, July.
• 4
  You go over the limit. Excess contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax each year they stay in the account, unless you withdraw them, and any earnings on them, by the tax filing deadline (IRS Publication 969).

The short version

The short version

• 2027 limits: $4,500 self-only, $9,000 family, plus $1,000 if you are 55 or older.
• Employer deposits and your payroll contributions share the same limit.
• Confirm eligibility first: an HSA-eligible plan, no general-purpose FSA, no Medicare.
• Pick an amount that covers expected care, then build toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum, then consider the maximum.
• You can change your HSA payroll amount during the year.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the HSA contribution limit for 2027?

$4,500 for self-only HDHP coverage and $9,000 for family coverage, plus an extra $1,000 if you are 55 or older (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24).

Does my employer's HSA contribution count toward the limit?

Yes. Employer deposits, your payroll contributions and anything you deposit directly all count toward the same annual limit (IRS Publication 969).

What is the minimum deductible for an HDHP in 2027?

$1,750 for self-only coverage and $3,500 for family coverage, with out-of-pocket maximums no higher than $8,700 and $17,400 (IRS Rev. Proc. 2026-24).

Can I change my HSA contribution during the year?

Generally yes. Unlike an FSA election, which is usually locked for the plan year, you can usually change your HSA payroll contribution during the year. Your employer sets how often.

Should I put money in an HSA if I am healthy?

It depends on your budget and goals. Unspent HSA money carries over and stays yours, so some healthy people use it to build a cushion for a future bad year. Others prioritize emergency savings or a 401(k) match first.

Can I have an HSA and an FSA at the same time?

Only if the FSA is a limited-purpose (usually dental and vision) or post-deductible FSA. A general-purpose health FSA generally blocks HSA contributions (IRS Publication 969; IRS Publication 15-B). See how much to put in an FSA for 2027.