Another Way to Fund a Health Savings Account

You can make a tax-free rollover from an IRA to an HSA once in your lifetime.

Can I transfer money from my traditional IRA to a health savings account?

If you have an HSA-eligible health insurance policy, then you can roll money over from a traditional IRA to an HSA and avoid a tax bill on that money when you withdraw it for medical expenses. However, you can make the tax-free rollover only once in your lifetime, up to the annual HSA contribution limit ($3,300 if you have individual coverage or $6,550 for family coverage, plus $1,000 if you are 55 or older anytime during the year), minus any contributions you’ve already made to the HSA for the year. You must be enrolled in an HSA-eligible policy for 12 months after making the transfer to avoid penalties.

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Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.