Lacie Glover spent more than five years covering health care costs and all types of insurance as a NerdWallet writer before becoming an assistant assigning editor in 2019 and later an assigning editor on the insurance team. As a writer, her work was featured in The Associated Press, The Motley Fool and U.S. News & World Report. Lacie is a NerdWallet authority on insurance products and loves data, analytics and solving SEO mysteries.
Assigning Editor Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Fact Checked Co-written by Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer Kate Ashford, CSA®
Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance
Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
High-deductible health plans usually carry lower premiums but require more out-of-pocket spending before insurance starts paying for care. Meanwhile, health insurance plans with lower deductibles offer more predictable costs and often more generous coverage, but they usually come with higher premiums.
Compared to a traditional low-deductible health plan, a high-deductible health plan, or HDHP, requires you to pay a higher amount for medical care out of pocket before your insurance starts covering eligible costs. The amount you pay out of pocket is called the deductible.
According to the IRS, an HDHP is defined as the following in 2022:
Any health plan carrying a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual or $2,800 for a family.Total out-of-pocket expenses for the year can’t exceed $7,050 for an individual or $14,100 for a family, including deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.
HDHPs may cover some preventive care benefits at no or minimal cost. This could include the following:
Annual physicals. Immunizations. Routine prenatal care and well-child visits.Screening services for things like cancer, heart disease, pediatric conditions, and vision and hearing disorders.
Tobacco cessation programs. Obesity weight-loss programs.HDHPs were intended to encourage consumers to shop around for health care. The logic is that if you’re responsible for medical costs upfront, you’ll do more work to find lower-cost providers — cutting expenses for you and your insurer.
In practice, this hasn’t panned out for most people. People with HDHPs aren’t shopping around for health care or talking with providers about costs, according to research from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. And although consumers with HDHPs tend to reduce costs, they do so by skipping out on care and medication.
One of the perks of having an HDHP is that you may be eligible to save funds in a health savings account , or HSA. They are tax-advantaged, meaning you can direct funds from your paycheck pretax into an HSA, or you can add the money post-tax and deduct taxes later.
In 2022, the annual HSA contribution limit for an individual is $3,650. Someone with family coverage can contribute up to $7,300. An employer may also contribute to your HSA.
HSA money can earn interest, can be invested in stocks or mutual funds and can be spent (tax-free) on any qualifying medical expenses, as defined by the IRS . You can contribute to one as long as you have an active qualifying HDHP and no other health coverage. HSA money also rolls over year to year, so you can use it when you need it.
Not all HDHPs qualify you for an HSA, so make sure the one you choose meets IRS requirements.
There are several reasons you might decide for or against this kind of health plan.
Typically lower premiums: These types of plans usually cost less per month than more traditional health plans with a lower deductible.
Ability to use an HSA: Having a qualified HDHP means you’re eligible to put thousands of pretax dollars into an HSA, which you can use for medical expenses this year or in the future. Your HSA money can also be invested and grow over time.
Employer contribution: More than half of employers offering HDHPs make contributions toward their workers’ HSAs, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation . That’s essentially free money toward your health care costs.
High costs for initial care: If you manage a chronic illness or you seek frequent health care beyond preventive visits, you may find yourself spending more out of pocket, although an employer contribution can help with upfront bills.
High deductible if disaster strikes: Health insurance is meant to protect you in the case of a serious illness, but you must be prepared to pay out of pocket for your full deductible (and any costs beyond that point, up to the out-of-pocket max) if something unexpected happens.
While an HDHP can be a great option for some health care consumers, it’s not the best choice for everyone.
You can afford to pay your deductible upfront or within 30 days of receiving a bill for that amount if a surprise medical expense comes up.
You have the means to make significant contributions to an HSA. You're healthy and are interested in using an HSA as a way to save or invest money. Your employer HSA contribution is enough to cover much or most of your deductible.While it can seem like a straightforward choice based on how often you’re using the health care system, it’s worth doing some side-by-side comparisons. Even with a chronic condition, a high-deductible plan with a low monthly premium and a generous employer HSA contribution might end up being cheaper than a traditional plan with a higher monthly premium and no employer contribution.
Costs to compare from plan to plan include:
Premium: This is the amount of money you’ll pay each month for the plan.Deductible: This is the amount you’ll pay before your health insurance starts to cover care, with the exception of qualifying preventive care in some cases. Make sure you note if there’s a deductible per person and an overall deductible for the family.
Copays and coinsurance: These are payments you make for medical services after you’ve hit your deductible. Copays are a set amount of money you pay for a particular service, such as $20 each time you see a specialist. Coinsurance is a percentage of the approved service cost, such as 20% of the cost of an office visit.
Out-of-pocket maximum: This is the most you could spend on covered health care in a year. There may be a per-person max and an overall family max.
Employer contribution: If you’re comparing a high-deductible health plan to another plan, make sure you include any contribution your employer makes toward your HSA, which you can use to pay for medical care.
Your decision will be highly individual, a financial choice based on you and your family’s health care needs. Choose the plan that allows you the best options for getting the medical care you need, when you need it.
About the authorsYou’re following Lacie Glover
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Lacie Glover is an insurance editor and writer and a NerdWallet authority on insurance. Her work has been featured by USA Today, U.S. News and World Report and The Associated Press. See full bio.
You’re following Kate Ashford, CSA®
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Kate Ashford is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and personal finance writer at NerdWallet specializing in Medicare and retirement topics. See full bio.
On a similar note.
HSA vs. FSA: Differences and How to Choose Open Enrollment for Health Insurance What Is a Medicare Advantage Plan? MORE LIKE THIS Health InsuranceCopays, coinsurance and deductibles are types of out-of-pocket costs for health care, but details vary by health plan.
Here's how to get a tax break on medical bills through an FSA or HSA, plus new 2025 HSA contribution limits.
NerdWallet Home Page Finance Smarter Credit Cards Financial Planning Financial News Small BusinessDownload the app
Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific product’s site. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institution’s Terms and Conditions. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion® directly.
NerdUp by NerdWallet credit card: NerdWallet is not a bank. Bank services provided by Evolve Bank & Trust, member FDIC. The NerdUp by NerdWallet Credit Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust pursuant to a license from MasterCard International Inc.
Impact on your credit may vary, as credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539
California: California Finance Lender loans arranged pursuant to Department of Financial Protection and Innovation Finance Lenders License #60DBO-74812
Insurance Services offered through NerdWallet Insurance Services, Inc. (CA resident license no.OK92033) Insurance Licenses
NerdWallet™ | 55 Hawthorne St. - 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
