Health calculator

HSA growth calculator

See what your HSA could be worth at retirement if you invest it instead of spending it on current medical bills.

Triple tax-advantaged growth Compares spend vs. invest No signup required
Enter your numbers Health · 2026
HSA value at retirement (if invested)
$406,000
tax-free for qualified medical expenses
✓ Triple tax advantage compounding
Total contributions
Investment growth
Tax saved on contributions

How to read your results

This calculator projects your HSA balance if you invest your contributions rather than spending them on current medical expenses (paying out of pocket instead, and keeping receipts). The HSA grows tax-free, and qualified medical withdrawals — at any age, even decades later — are completely tax-free.

The "shoebox strategy": Many financial planners recommend paying current medical expenses out of pocket (even though you could use HSA funds) and saving the receipts. You can reimburse yourself from the HSA for those old expenses at any point in the future — even 20 years later — completely tax-free, while letting the HSA balance grow invested in the meantime.

What this calculator doesn't include

  • After age 65 flexibility — once you turn 65, HSA funds can be withdrawn for any purpose (not just medical) and are simply taxed as ordinary income, like a Traditional IRA — with no penalty.
  • Investment fees — some HSA providers charge account or investment fees; check yours, as fees compound negatively over decades just like returns compound positively.
  • Employer contributions — if your employer contributes to your HSA, add that to your annual contribution field for a complete picture.

Why the HSA beats a 401k for healthcare costs

The HSA is the only account with a "triple tax advantage": tax-deductible going in, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawal for medical expenses. A 401k is tax-deductible going in and tax-free growth, but withdrawals are taxed. A Roth IRA is taxed going in but tax-free growth and withdrawal. The HSA is strictly better than both for healthcare spending specifically.