Can you contribute to an HSA account after age 65?

Asked by: Kamryn Oberbrunner  |  Last update: November 25, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (13 votes)

At age 65, most Americans lose HSA eligibility because they begin Medicare. Final Year's Contribution is Pro-Rata. You can make an HSA contribution after you turn 65 and enroll in Medicare, if you have not maximized your contribution for your last year of HSA eligibility.

Can I contribute max to HSA in year I turn 65?

Your maximum contribution is determined by adjusting the HSA maximum in accordance with how many months of the year that you were eligible. For example, if you turn 65 in April, you were eligible for the first three months of the year. You can then contribute 3/12 of the HSA annual contribution maximum.

What age can you no longer contribute to HSA?

If a worker is already collecting Social Security upon turning age 65, he or she will be automatically enrolled in Medicare and henceforth no longer be able to contribute to his or her HSA.

Can a retiree put money into an HSA?

Provided all eligibility requirements are met, retirees can begin making contributions to their HSA as soon as the account is established or opened. Annual contribution limits are mandated by the Internal Revenue Service and are adjusted annually for inflation.

Can I contribute to an HSA if I am on Medicare?

Can I enroll in an HSA if I am enrolled in Medicare? No. Once you enroll in Medicare Part A and/or B, you can no longer setup or contribute pre-tax dollars to an existing HSA. This is because to contribute pre-tax dollars to an HSA you cannot have any health insurance other than a HDHP.

Health Savings Account (HSA) Withdrawal After Age 65 in Retirement - Tax Free!

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When should I stop contributing to HSA before Medicare?

There is no need to stop HSA contributions before your 65th birthday month. You are not yet eligible for Medicare, so there is no “double dipping” of a tax advantage. For example: Someone with a July birthday, who applied for Medicare in April, May, or June, should stop HSA contributions as of June 30th.

How much can I contribute to an HSA the year I start Medicare?

Yes, but you can't contribute to a health savings account (HSA) after you enroll in Medicare. You can use money you've accumulated tax-free in an HSA for eligible medical expenses at any time. After you turn 65, you can even withdraw money tax-free from an HSA to pay your Medicare premiums.

Can I contribute to an HSA if I am not working?

∎ Can I contribute to an HSA even if I'm not employed: You do not have to have a job or earned income from employment to be eligible for an HSA – in other words, the money can be from your own personal savings, income from dividends, unemployment, etc.

Can you put money into HSA at any time?

HSAs can be created and contributed to at any time*. However, HSA set up and contributions must be completed before the tax return due date to apply to the current tax year.

What is the tax penalty for contributing to an HSA while on Medicare?

Your contributions after you're enrolled in Medicare might be considered “excess” by the IRS. Excess contributions will be taxed an additional 6% when you withdraw them. You'll pay back taxes plus an additional 10% tax if you enroll in Medicare during your HSA testing period.

Why can't I contribute to an HSA after age 65?

At age 65, most Americans lose HSA eligibility because they begin Medicare. Final Year's Contribution is Pro-Rata.

What is the 6 month rule for Medicare and HSA?

This is because when you enroll in Medicare Part A, you receive up to six months of retroactive coverage, not going back farther than your initial month of eligibility. If you do not stop HSA contributions at least six months before Medicare enrollment, you may incur a tax penalty.

How much money can you have in a health savings account?

2023 HSA contribution limits

The HSA contribution limits for 2023 are $3,850 for self-only coverage and $7,750 for family coverage. Those 55 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution.

What happens if you over contribute to HSA?

Contributing more to your health savings account (HSA) than the IRS limit for the tax year is called an excess contribution. All excess contributions are subject to income tax and a 6% excise tax each year until corrected. For the current annual IRS limits see Section D question #1 of the HSA FAQs.

How much can a 63 year old contribute to an HSA?

As in prior years, HSA account owners aged 55 and older may contribute an additional $1,000 over the standard annual limit. For 2024, that means account owners with individual coverage may contribute $4,150 plus an additional $1,000, whereas those with family coverage may contribute $8,300 plus $1,000.

What is the triple tax advantage of HSA?

Health Savings Accounts offer a triple-tax advantage* – deposits are tax-deductible, growth is tax-deferred, and spending is tax-free. All contributions to your HSA are tax-deducible, or if made through payroll deductions, are pre-tax which lowers your overall taxable income.

Can I use HSA for dental?

You can also use HSAs to help pay for dental care. While dental insurance can help cover costs, an HSA can also help cover any out-of-pocket expenses resulting from dental care and procedures.

What disqualifies you from having an HSA?

The HSA rules do not provide an exception for Medicaid. Medicare. Medicare enrollment, not eligibility, disqualifies a person from HSA contributions, starting on the first of the month in which Medicare begins. Age-based, disability-based, and end-stage renal disease-based Medicare all make one HSA ineligible.

What makes you ineligible for an HSA account?

If you can receive benefits before that deductible is met, you aren't an eligible individual. Other employee health plans. An employee covered by an HDHP and a health FSA or an HRA that pays or reimburses qualified medical expenses can't generally make contributions to an HSA.

What to do with my HSA after I quit?

You get to keep all the money in the HSA account when you leave your company — there are no time or vesting requirements. Now, don't expect to use it for a cruise or a shopping spree, remember that it's still a designated healthcare savings account!

Can my wife contribute to her HSA if I am on Medicare?

Yes, being eligible to contribute to the HSA is determined by the status of the HSA account holder not the dependents of the account holder. Your spouse being on Medicare does not disqualify you from continuing contributions to the HSA up to the family limit, even if they are also covered by the HDHP.

When can I take out HSA money without penalty?

One significant perk of an HSA is that once you reach age 65, you can take an HSA distribution for any expense without penalty. The only caveat is that the withdrawal will be taxed like regular income.

How much balance should I keep in HSA?

The short answer: As much as you're able to (within IRS contribution limits), if that's financially viable. If you're covered by an HSA-eligible health plan (or high-deductible health plan), the IRS allows you to put as much as $3,850 per year (in 2023) into your health savings account (HSA).

How much of HSA to keep in cash?

"We generally suggest keeping two to three years' worth of routine medical expenses in cash, cash investments, or similar low-volatility investments within your HSA," says Rob Williams, managing director of financial planning, retirement income, and wealth management at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.

What percentage of people invest their HSA?

More HSA Funds Are Getting Invested

But market headwinds have slowed growth in the past year. Despite these conditions, 2.6 million account holders used their HSAs to invest. About 7.2% of all HSA accounts had some money in investments in 2022, up from 6.9% the prior year and 3.7% in 2018.