If you’re considering setting up a health savings account, you’re probably wondering how an HSA-compatible plan differs from a regular health plan.

Requirement: High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

To open and contribute to an HSA, you must be enrolled in a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). While the term “high-deductible” may sound intimidating, the minimum deductibles for HSA-qualified plans aren’t as high as you might expect.

For 2025, an HSA-qualified plan must have at least:

  • $1,650 deductible for individual coverage

  • $3,300 deductible for family coverage

That’s not significantly higher than many traditional plans today, which is why a better term might be “HSA-qualified plan” rather than high-deductible.

Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Limits

Along with a minimum deductible, HSA-qualified plans have maximum out-of-pocket limits, which cap how much you’ll pay in total for covered services during the plan year.

For 2025, the limits are:

  • $8,300 for individual coverage

  • $16,600 for family coverage

These limits include deductibles, coinsurance, and other cost-sharing, but do not include premiums.

Key Differences from Traditional Plans

The biggest distinction between HSA-qualified plans and traditional health plans is how you pay for services before reaching your deductible.

With traditional plans, you often have fixed copayments (like $30 to see a doctor) before hitting your deductible. But with an HSA-qualified plan, you generally pay the full negotiated rate for non-preventive services—no copays—until you meet your deductible. That full amount counts toward your out-of-pocket max.

This approach is part of what makes HSA-compatible plans HSA-eligible: IRS rules don’t allow those first-dollar copays unless they’re for preventive care.

Preventive Care Coverage

Preventive care—like screenings, vaccines, and annual physicals—is typically covered at 100% on HSA-qualified plans, as required by the Affordable Care Act. You won’t pay anything out of pocket for these services, even if you haven’t met your deductible.