High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

A High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is a health plan design that pairs a lower monthly premium with a higher annual deductible. When it meets specific IRS thresholds, it can be paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) under Internal Revenue Code Section 223. For 2026, per IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-19, a qualifying HDHP must carry a minimum deductible of $1,700 for self-only coverage ($3,400 for family coverage) and a maximum out-of-pocket limit of $8,500 for self-only coverage ($17,000 for family coverage). HSA contribution limits for 2026 rise to $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage.

HDHP/SO premiums averaged $8,620 for single coverage and $25,379 for family coverage in 2025—meaningfully lower than the $9,325 and $26,993 overall averages across all plan types, per KFF's 2025 survey. The well-documented tradeoff: even though certain preventive services are already covered pre-deductible under existing IRS safe harbor, enrollees on HDHPs still measurably defer care, since most everyday visits aren't preventive care and do count against the deductible.

Per IRS Notice 2026-5, HDHPs may now offer certain telehealth services pre-deductible, and enrollment in a Direct Primary Care arrangement no longer automatically disqualifies HSA eligibility, provided the DPC fee stays at or below $150/month. This directly addresses the deferred-care problem above—access without a deductible barrier is exactly the gap the OnMed CareStation^® is designed to close. Whether a specific CareStation visit qualifies under this pre-deductible telehealth provision depends on plan design and HHS's Medicare telehealth service list; that's a determination for the plan administrator.