subject: 2010 Health Savings Account Contribution Limits [print this page] The U.S. Treasury and IRS have already announced what the maximum contributions will be for Health Savings Accounts in 2010. Individuals may contribute up to $3,050 in 2010 and families may contribute up to $6,150 per year. Also, individuals aged 55 or older can contribute $1,000 as a catch-up contribution. The money that Health Savings Account or HSA participants contribute to their Health Savings Accounts is tax-deductible from their annual income taxes.
In addition to the maximum contribution amounts that HSA participants can contribute each year, there are also maximum out-of-pocket spending caps. In 2010, individuals must have a maximum out-of-pocket spending cap of $5,950. Families must have a maximum out-of-pocket spending deductible of $11,900.
Minimum insurance deductibles are also determined by the government. In 2010, individuals must have a minimum insurance deductible of $1,200 for their high deductible insurance plans. Families must have a minimum deductible of $2,400 for their high deductible insurance plans.
Each of these figures increased by $50 for individual HSA participants and at least $200 for family Health Savings Account participants.
What is a Health Savings Account?
A HSA is a savings account in which participants can put money that they earmark for healthcare expenses. The contributions that HSA participants make towards their HSA each year is reduced from their income tax burden, which helps to save Health Savings Account participants money off of their income taxes. HSA participants can use the money that they put into their HSAs to help pay for qualifying healthcare expenses. Often, the healthcare expenses that are covered by HSAs are greater than healthcare expenses that are covered by many health insurance plans.
If HSA participants want to use the money in their HSAs to pay for non-qualifying healthcare expenses or for expenses not related to healthcare, they can withdraw the funds from their HSAs at any time. When they make their withdrawals, the funds will be taxed at that time. However, funds will not be taxed if they are spent on qualifying healthcare expenses.
One of the many benefits of enrolling in a HSA plan is that individuals and families are generally able to save thousands of dollars each year while growing their wealth. The money that HSA participants invest in their HSAs can be invested in other high interest-yielding vehicles, such as stocks and bonds. In this sense, HSAs are similar to IRAs.
Also, because HSAs are combined with high deductible health insurance plans, HSA participants can save a significant amount of money each month off of the cost of their health insurance premiums.
Where to get a Health Savings Account
Many HSA participants are able to get their HSAs through their employers. In this case, many employers also make contributions to HSAs for their employees, which are tax-deductible for the employer and helps employees to grow their savings. If HSAs are not available through employers, many individuals opt to enroll in HSAs on their own as individuals or as families.
Many health insurance providers offer HSA options as part of their menu of health insurance plans. It is important that individuals wishing to enroll in HSAs find qualifying high deductible health insurance plans that are specifically suited to correspond to HSAs.
It may also be helpful for individuals wishing to enroll in HSAs to contact an experience HSA advisor who can help them find the right plan for their needs and their budgets. HSA advisors can also answer any questions that individuals may have about Health Savings Account plans, as they may be different than health insurance plans that many individuals are accustomed to.
Ultimately, Health Savings Accounts tend to save individuals and families thousands of dollars each year off of the cost of their healthcare. With the Health Savings Account contribution increase in 2010, Health Savings Account participants can put more money away for savings than ever before.
by: Wiley Long
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