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By YourBest Editorial Team · Updated October 17, 2026 · How we rank

Calculator · IRS HSA limits

HDHP vs. PPO Calculator: Which Employer Plan Costs Less?

At open enrollment, a high-deductible plan with an HSA often looks worse until you count the lower premium, your employer’s HSA deposit and the tax you save. This calculator adds it all up at the spending levels that matter.

$4,5002027 HSA limit, self-only coverage

$9,0002027 HSA limit, family coverage

$1,7502027 minimum HDHP deductible, self-only

Your plan options

Plan year

Coverage

Age 55 or older?

Tax rate on HSA contributions (%)Federal bracket + state + 7.65% payroll tax if you contribute through payroll

HDHP with HSA

Your premium per year Deductible Coinsurance after deductible (%) Out-of-pocket maximum Employer HSA contribution per year Your HSA contribution per year

PPO

Your premium per year Deductible Coinsurance after deductible (%) Out-of-pocket maximum

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Medical bills in a year	HDHP net cost	PPO cost	Difference

Net HDHP cost = premium + out-of-pocket costs − employer HSA deposit − tax saved on your own contribution. Your HSA money is yours to keep: anything not spent rolls over and can be invested. Simplified cost model (deductible, then coinsurance, up to the out-of-pocket maximum). Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Why the HDHP often wins

Three things work for the high-deductible plan: a lower premium you pay every year whether you use care or not, the employer’s HSA deposit (free money many people forget to count), and the tax break on your own contributions. Through payroll, HSA contributions skip federal income tax, most state income taxes and the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax. Together these often cover most of the higher deductible.

The PPO tends to win when you expect high, predictable bills and its out-of-pocket maximum is much lower, or when the employer adds nothing to the HSA and the premium gap is small. The table shows both cases at your numbers.

Questions

How much can I put in an HSA in 2027?

$4,500 with self-only coverage or $9,000 with family coverage, including your employer’s contributions, plus $1,000 if you are 55 or older. For 2026 the limits are $4,400 and $8,750.

What makes a plan a high-deductible health plan?

For 2027, a deductible of at least $1,750 (self-only) or $3,500 (family), and an out-of-pocket maximum no higher than $8,700 or $17,400.

Can I keep my HSA if I change jobs?

Yes. The account is yours. You can move it to any HSA provider, and you can spend it on qualified medical costs tax-free at any age.

Sources

IRS, 2027 HSA and HDHP limits — irs.gov PDF; 2026 limits — irs.gov PDF.
IRS Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts — irs.gov.

Educational comparison, not tax advice. Checked October 17, 2026. · Advertiser disclosure