No, the money in your Health Savings Account (HSA) never expires and remains yours to keep indefinitely - it automatically rolls over year after year, even if you leave your job, change health insurance, or retire.
Why?
HSAs are designed to be long-term savings accounts for healthcare expenses, offering several unique advantages:
Unlike FSAs, there is no "use-it-or-lose-it" rule
You own the account and all funds in it (including employer contributions)
You can save up over time for future medical expenses
You can invest unused funds to grow your balance tax-free
The account stays with you regardless of employment changes
Example
If you contribute $3,000 to your HSA this year but only spend $1,000 on medical expenses, the remaining $2,000 will automatically roll over to next year. You could continue to accumulate funds this way over many years, building up a healthcare balance for future needs.
Common Questions
What happens to my HSA if I change jobs?
Your HSA belongs to you, not your employer. You keep all the money in the account and can continue to use it for qualified medical expenses. If your next employer offers an HSA, you may need to set up new payroll contributions with them. Additionally, you may prefer to transfer your HSA to a different custodian following departure from a previous employer.
Can I still contribute to and spend from my HSA if I'm no longer eligible?
While you cannot make new contributions without an eligible high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you can continue to spend any existing funds in your account for qualified medical expenses indefinitely.
Are there limits on how much I can contribute each year?
Yes, the IRS sets annual contribution limits:
2026 HSA Contribution Limits
For 2025, employees with a Health Savings Account (HSA) may elect to contribute up to an annual maximum of:
$4,400 for self-only coverage
$8,750 for family coverage
$1,000 for catch-up
2025 HSA Contribution Limits
For 2025, employees with a Health Savings Account (HSA) may elect to contribute up to an annual maximum of:
$4,300 for self-only coverage
$8,550 for family coverage
$1,000 for catch-up
How do IRS contribution limits work if my benefit plan year spans two calendar years?
IRS HSA contribution limits are applied based on the calendar year, not your employer's benefit plan year.
If your benefit plan runs across two calendar years (for example, July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), your maximum HSA contribution is calculated by prorating the IRS annual limit based on your HSA eligibility for each month.
Here's how it works:
HSA eligibility is determined monthly, based on your enrollment status on the first day of each month.
The IRS annual contribution limit is divided into 12 monthly amounts.
You receive the monthly portion of the applicable IRS limit for each month you're HSA-eligible, based on your coverage tier (self-only or family).
For example, if you're enrolled in self-only coverage from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026:
July–December 2025: 6 months × 1/12 of the 2025 IRS limit
January–June 2026: 6 months × 1/12 of the 2026 IRS limit
Your total allowable contribution is the sum of those monthly amounts.
Important: Your employer's benefit plan year does not create a separate HSA contribution limit. HSA contributions are always reported and limited based on the IRS tax year (typically the calendar year).
If your coverage changes during the year (for example, from self-only to family coverage), your contribution limit is also prorated based on your coverage tier for each month you are HSA-eligible.