2019 HSA Contribution Limits Released

After a tumultuous year of changes in the 2018 annual contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs)—they weren't finalized until well into the current year—health plan sponsors should have plenty of time to prepare for the 2019 HSA contribution caps, announced by the IRS on May 10.

Next year, allowable HSA contributions for participants with self-only health coverage will rise by $50. For HSAs linked to family coverage, the 2019 contribution limit will rise by $100 above the family cap set for 2018.

The IRS recalculated the family cap downward in March after Congress revised the inflation adjustment for many employer benefit rates. In April, the IRS granted relief that restored the family cap back to the original 2018 level.

In Revenue Procedure 2018-30, the IRS has provided the inflation-adjusted HSA contribution limits effective for calendar year 2019, along with minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket expenses for the high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) that HSAs must be coupled with.

2019 HSA Contribution Limits

HSA contribution limit (employer + employee)
Self-only: $3,500
Family: $7,000

HSA catch-up contributions (age 55 or older)
$1,000; No change

Source: IRS, Revenue Procedure 2018-30; https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/benefits/pages/2019-hsa-contribution-limits-rise-irs-says.aspx