How to Use GoodRx With Your High-Deductible Health Plan and HSA

A high-deductible health plan (HDHP) requires you to spend a large amount out of pocket, besides on preventive care, to meet your deductible before insurance starts to pay its share. You’re responsible for all of your healthcare costs during the deductible phase. This can make an HDHP unaffordable for many individuals and families. 

Just how high are HDHP deductibles?

With an HDHP, you are expected to pay the costs of nonpreventive care out of pocket until you meet your annual deductible. That means presenting your insurance card when you access care, so that your spending counts toward your deductible, but paying the full charges yourself. Your HDHP begins cost-sharing after you spend your annual deductible amount. Keep in mind your plan’s deductible can change yearly.

Your HDHP deductible depends on your plan and whether you have individual or family (two or more people) coverage. There are annual deductible ranges for both kinds of coverage. Here are the minimum and maximum deductible amounts for HDHPs in 2026.

HDHP savings account options

An HDHP is often paired with a health savings account (HSA), a tax-advantaged fund offered by employers that lets you use tax-free dollars for healthcare expenses. (If you withdraw money from an HSA for other kinds of expenses, you may be subject to a 20% tax penalty.) You can also open an HSA on your own if you’re covered by an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace bronze or catastrophic plan. These plans qualify as HDHPs starting in 2026.

An HDHP can also be paired with another savings account option known as a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). HRAs have different rules than HSAs, but also offer tax benefits.

About 1 in 4 workers with employer-sponsored health insurance in 2023 had a HDHP with an HSA. When you add those who had an HDHP with an HRA, about 30% of people with job-based health plans were enrolled in HDHPs with a savings account option.

How can you save on medications?

Fortunately, there are many opportunities to save on your prescription medications when you’re in the HDHP deductible phase — and even after. In some cases, you may be able to pay less by not using your insurance at all.

GoodRx provides discounts and coupons on prescriptions, which can make the price of your medication less than your insurance copay. This can be especially helpful when you’re tied to a high deductible.

Here’s how to save in three easy steps:

1. At the pharmacy, ask how much your medication will cost through your insurance.

2. Compare that price to GoodRx’s best price. (Download our mobile app so you can compare prices right at the counter!)

3. If GoodRx has a better price, ask your pharmacist to use the GoodRx discount instead of your insurance.

In many cases, using GoodRx discounts instead of insurance can help you save with HSA funds. Keep reading to find out how you can take advantage of these benefits.

Using GoodRx to contribute to your deductible

If you purchase a medication with a GoodRx coupon and the drug is covered by your insurance, you may be able to submit the receipt to your health plan and have your out-of-pocket costs counted toward your deductible. Though, some insurance plans don’t count items and services paid fully with cash toward your deductible — even if they’re covered by your plan.

Using GoodRx with your HSA

You can use funds from your HSA to pay for prescription medications that are discounted through GoodRx. Prescriptions purchased using a GoodRx discount usually count as qualified medical expenses. You can also use a GoodRx discount on some over-the-counter medications and pay with HSA funds. 

Does it matter if your insurance doesn’t cover your prescription?

Even if your insurance plan doesn’t cover a certain prescription medication, you can always use a GoodRx discount and your HSA for savings. HSA funds are tax-free as long as you spend them on qualified medical expenses as specified by the IRS.