A benefits packet has maybe eight numbers that matter. The rest is filler. This is the 15-minute pass to find the ones that decide your money.
Work through it top to bottom. Have last year's medical spending handy if you can.
Minute 1 to 5: find the plan numbers
For each health plan option, pull these four figures. Write them in a row.
- ●Premium. What comes out of your paycheck, per pay period and per year.
- ●Deductible. What you pay before the plan starts sharing costs.
- ●Out-of-pocket max. The most you can pay in a bad year.
- ●HSA-eligible? Yes or no. This flag decides if you can open an HSA.
Minute 5 to 8: verify the HDHP actually qualifies
A plan can say "HSA-eligible" and still need checking. The IRS sets the test. For 2027, an HSA-eligible HDHP must meet these limits.
| Rule | Self-only | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deductible | $1,750 | $3,500 |
| Out-of-pocket max cannot exceed | $8,700 | $17,400 |
If a plan's deductible is below the minimum, it is not HSA-eligible, whatever the brochure says. If the out-of-pocket max is above the cap, same problem.
Minute 8 to 11: find the employer HSA contribution
This number is easy to miss. It is real money and it is often tax-free.
- ●Look for "employer contribution," "HSA seed," or "company match."
- ●Note whether it is a flat amount or a match that requires your own contribution.
- ●Remember it counts toward the annual limit: $4,500 self-only or $9,000 family for 2027.
A match requires action. Contributing enough to capture the full match is the first priority. Detail is in the employer matching guide.
Minute 11 to 13: spot the account you actually want
Packets often list an HSA and an FSA. They are not the same, and the difference matters.
- ●An HSA is yours. The balance rolls over and follows you when you leave.
- ●An FSA is use-it-or-lose-it, tied to the employer, and does not build.
If the packet offers both, the distinction changes your plan. The HSA vs FSA comparison breaks down which fits which situation.
Minute 13 to 15: run the decision
Two plans, four numbers each, plus the employer contribution. Now decide.
- ●Low expected spend: the HDHP premium savings usually win.
- ●High or predictable spend: check the out-of-pocket max against a heavy year.
- ●Either way, subtract the employer HSA money from the true cost of the HDHP.
Do not eyeball it. Enter your premiums and expected spend into the HDHP vs PPO calculator and let it total the year for you.
The one-page checklist
- ●Premium, deductible, out-of-pocket max, HSA-eligible flag, for each plan.
- ●Confirm the HDHP meets the 2027 limits in the table above.
- ●Find the employer HSA contribution and note flat versus match.
- ●Identify HSA versus FSA and pick the account that rolls over.
- ●Total each plan's real cost with the calculator, then choose.
Fifteen minutes. Eight numbers. One decision that sets your health spending for the whole year.
*This is educational content, not financial or tax advice. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions about your HSA.*