Your Strategy

Default: $4,400 (2026 Individual)

Age 55+ Catch-Up ($1k) Applied at age 55
100%
65

Contributions drop to $0 once Medicare coverage begins.

Market Settings

HSA Growth Projection

Hover over the chart to see your balances at specific ages.

Nominal Balance

$0

Actual future dollars

Real Balance

$0

Adjusted for inflation (Today's purchasing power)

Important Disclaimer & Tool 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.

Key Model Limitations:

  • Constant Returns vs. Reality: This model assumes a flat, constant annual rate of return. Real markets are volatile. A static average cannot account for "sequence of returns risk" or the timing of market downturns.
  • Excluded Costs: Projections do not factor in investment fees, mutual fund expense ratios, or HSA administrative fees, all of which will reduce actual net returns.
  • Regulatory Changes: The tool assumes IRS contribution limits grow at a fixed rate and the HSA retains its tax status. Actual limits vary, and future tax laws are subject to change.
  • Zero Withdrawals: The math assumes no funds are withdrawn to pay for medical expenses over the entire timeline, which rarely reflects real-world behavior.

The Bottom Line: These results are directional illustrations of how compounding and tax-free growth work over time. They are not forecasts or guarantees of future account balances. Your actual results will differ.

Model Assumptions

IRS & Tax Rules

  • Stagnant Catch-Up: The base limit grows with inflation, but the $1,000 Age 55+ catch-up is fixed by statute and remains flat.
  • Perfect Indexing: Assumes the IRS increases the base limit smoothly by the exact inflation rate every year, rather than stair-stepping by $50 increments.
  • Permanent Tax Advantage: Assumes the U.S. tax code does not revoke the HSA's triple-tax-advantaged status over the 40-year horizon.

Market Math

  • Linear Returns: Assumes a flat, constant rate of return, ignoring real-world market volatility and sequence of returns risk.
  • Constant Inflation: Assumes inflation hits exactly at the set rate uniformly every year.
  • End-of-Year Contributions: Assumes contributions are made on December 31st, meaning current-year contributions do not experience any intra-year market growth.

Behavioral Strategy

  • The Ultimate "Shoebox": Assumes $0 in withdrawals for the entire 40-year period, requiring you to pay for all medical expenses out-of-pocket from other funds.
  • Perfect Consistency: Assumes perfect adherence to your target contribution percentage every year without job loss or loss of HDHP eligibility.

Age-by-Age Breakdown (40-Year Projection)

Age Max IRS Limit Your Contribution Nominal Balance Real Balance (Inflation Adj)