California Employer Resource · Plan Structure
🧾 HSA-Qualified High-Deductible Plans for Your Group
A lower monthly premium, a higher deductible, and a tax-advantaged savings account your employees keep for life — here’s how the numbers actually work for 2026.
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Looking for the full employer rulebook — the 50-employee mandate, penalties, and tax credits? See the full guide →
🔎 What makes a plan “HSA-qualified,” and what are the 2026 numbers?HDHP Basics
A plan only qualifies as an HSA-eligible High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) if its deductible and out-of-pocket maximum fall within IRS limits set each year. For 2026:
Minimum deductible: $1,700 self-only · $3,400 family
Max out-of-pocket: $8,500 self-only · $17,000 family
Carriers design their HSA-qualified plans to land inside these numbers automatically — you don’t have to calculate it yourself, but it’s worth knowing why that plan’s deductible looks the way it does.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (2026 HSA/HDHP limits), via LocktonMax out-of-pocket: $8,500 self-only · $17,000 family
📋 Benefits Built for Small Groups
👨⚕️ “Small group medical, dental, vision and voluntary benefits, for groups as small as two employees.”
👩⚕️ “Your employees see plans side by side, with cost per paycheck shown up front. They make better decisions, and fewer questions land on your desk. How many benefits questions does your team field each week?”
💬 Get a Side-by-Side Comparison: Give Your Team Clear Choices💰 How much can employees contribute to an HSA in 2026?Contribution Limits
For 2026, the annual HSA contribution limit — combining employer and employee contributions — is $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage. Employees age 55 and older can add an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution on top of either limit. Unlike a Flexible Spending Account, HSA funds never expire and the account belongs to the employee even if they leave your company.Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (2026 HSA/HDHP limits), via Lockton
🏢 Can I contribute to employees’ HSAs myself, and does that pair with a Section 125 plan?Employer Contributions
Yes — employer HSA contributions are common, count toward the same annual limit, and are deductible to your business while being tax-free to the employee. Many employers also route employees’ own HSA contributions through a Section 125 cafeteria plan so that money comes out pre-tax, stacking two tax advantages on the same paycheck deduction. See how Section 125 plans work →
✅ Is an HSA-qualified plan a good fit for a small California group?Fit
It tends to work best for a younger or generally healthy workforce that doesn’t expect to hit the deductible every year — the lower premium plus the tax-advantaged savings can add up to real savings for both the business and the employee. It’s a tougher sell for a team with significant ongoing medical needs, since they’ll feel the higher deductible more directly in a given year. Many employers offer an HSA-qualified plan alongside a traditional copay plan, rather than as the only option, so employees can choose what fits their situation. See how this pairs with level-funded plans →