How does going on Medicare mid-year affect HSA contributions?

When someone goes on Medicare mid-year, it can impact their HSA contributions because Medicare enrollment makes them ineligible to contribute to an HSA. Here's how it affects HSA contributions:

• Ineligibility: Once enrolled in Medicare, individuals cannot contribute to an HSA anymore.

• Pro-rated contribution limit: The HSA contribution limit is pro-rated based on the number of months in a year that an individual is eligible to contribute.

• Coordination with HSA: Individuals should stop contributing to their HSA once they enroll in Medicare to avoid any penalties.

• Catch-up contributions: Catch-up contributions can still be made if someone is 55 or older and covered by an HSA-eligible plan, even after enrolling in Medicare.

When someone transitions to Medicare mid-year, it’s essential to understand the implications for HSA contributions. The act of enrolling in Medicare directly results in ineligibility to contribute to an HSA, which means it's crucial to plan ahead.