Health Plan Comparison Calculator

Compare the true cost of a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with HSA against a standard PPO plan. This calculator factors in premiums, deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, and the tax advantages of HSA contributions. It shows the difference only in the first year. See HSA compounding calculator to see the HSA benefit over time.

📄 Read the article

Individual Coverage Family Coverage

Plan Details

Combined Marginal Tax Rate (%) Fed + State + FICA

Standard Plan (e.g., PPO)

Monthly Premium ($)

Annual Deductible ($)

Out-of-Pocket Maximum ($)

Coinsurance (%) Your share after deductible

HDHP (with HSA)

Monthly Premium ($)

Annual Deductible ($)

Out-of-Pocket Maximum ($)

Coinsurance (%) Your share

Employer HSA ($)

Your HSA ($)

Estimated Annual Usage

Medical Needs

$2,500

Prescription Needs (Rx)

$300

Net Estimated Annual Cost

Standard Plan

HDHP with HSA

Cost Breakdown

Standard Plan HDHP

Post-Tax Premium

Out-of-Pocket Costs

HSA Financial Benefit

Net Total Cost (The Bottom Line)

Cost Function & Break-Even Analysis

2026 IRS Guidelines (HDHP/HSA)

Individual Coverage

Min HDHP Deductible: $1,700
Max HDHP Out-of-Pocket: $8,500
Max Total HSA Contrib: $4,400

Family Coverage

Min HDHP Deductible: $3,400
Max HDHP Out-of-Pocket: $17,000
Max Total HSA Contrib: $8,750

*Note: The calculator automatically limits your HDHP inputs to comply with these federal bounds based on your selected coverage tier.

Simplifying Assumptions

Pre-Tax Premiums: Assumes premiums for both plans are paid via payroll deduction before taxes, reducing your actual cost by your stated tax rate.
HSA Tax Savings: Assumes your employee HSA contributions are made pre-tax (or deducted on your return), lowering your cost by the generated tax savings. Employer contributions are counted as a 100% direct cost offset.
Standard plan logic assumes a blended "effective coinsurance rate" to simulate fixed copays before hitting the OOP Maximum.
Medical and Prescription deductibles are assumed to be combined for calculation simplicity.
Calculations assume 100% in-network medical care.

Important Disclaimer & Limitations This calculator is a simplified projection tool provided strictly for educational and illustrative purposes. It does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, and its use does not establish a client-advisor relationship. Do not base any financial decisions on these projections without consulting a qualified professional.