To be eligible to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA) in 2026, an individual must be covered by a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) AND:

Explanation

Under IRC §223, HSA eligibility requires that the individual (1) be covered by a qualifying HDHP with minimum deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limits set annually by the IRS, (2) have NO other 'disqualifying' health coverage — this includes Medicare enrollment (any part), a general-purpose health FSA, a spouse's non-HDHP plan that covers them, or being entitled to VA benefits within the prior 3 months (with exceptions), and (3) not be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's return. The under-age-65 condition is implied by the Medicare disqualifier but is not the full rule. The 400%-of-federal-poverty-level ceiling does not apply here — HSA eligibility is income-blind, unlike ACA subsidies. And the self-employed-only restriction is wrong — HSAs are available to employees, self-employed, and the unemployed alike.