Health Savings Account Contribution Limits

Requirements IRS for 2011 Single Plan Family Plan Minimum Deductible $1,200 $2,400 Maximum Out-of-Pocket $5,950 $11,900 Contribution Limit $3,050 $6,150 Catch-Up Contribution (55 or older)* $1,000 $1,000 * If a spouse is also 55 or older, a second HSA must be established and a second contribution of $900 could be made to that account.

IRS Requirements for 2012 Single Plan Family Plan Minimum Deductible $1,200 $2,400 Maximum Out-of-Pocket $6,050 $12,100 Contribution Limit $3,050 $6,150 Catch-Up Contribution (55 or older)* $1,000 $1,000 * If a spouse is also 55 or older, a second HSA must be established and a second contribution of $1,000 could be made to that account.

HSA plans were introduced by Congress on January 1, 2004

An HSA is a savings account that is paired with a qualified High-Deductible Health Plan to cover eligible medical expenses not covered by the health plan.

Effective, 1/1/2012, a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) satisfies certain requirements with respect to deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.  A qualified HDHP must have: a minimum annual self-only coverage deductible of $1,200 and a maximum self-only coverage out-of-pocket should be $6,050, or a minimum annual family coverage deductible of $2,400 and a maximum annual family coverage out-of-pocket of $12,100.

No amounts are payable from a HDHP until the family has incurred annual covered medical expenses in excess of the minimum annual deductible.

An individual is ineligible for an HSA if they are also covered by another health plan (individual, spouse, dependent) that is not an HDHP.

HSAs use pre-tax dollars.

HSA funds can grow tax-free in a variety of investment vehicles: Passbook savings, mutual funds, or stocks.