To see how HSA contributions may grow over time, consider Mary's story.

About Mary
Mary is single, in her early 40s and lives a pretty healthy lifestyle. She belongs to a weight-loss program and participates in a walking club with some co-workers.

Mary's Financial Situation and Health Costs
Mary lives in Nevada, where there is no state income tax, and is in the 25-percent federal tax bracket. Each year, she has about $1,000 in qualified medical expenses for things like prescription drugs and eyeglasses.

Mary's HSA
For the past five years, Mary has had a high-deductible health plan and an HSA. She's contributed about $2,500 to her HSA each year, but only used about $1,000 per year for current qualified medical expenses.

Today, her HSA is worth $7,782.02 after paying about $5,000 for qualified medical expenses. Her balance includes $228.02 in interest earnings, and she has saved nearly $2,200 in taxes for contributions and interest earnings.*

If Mary chooses, she could invest any of her funds over $2,000, her investment threshold, in mutual funds. When Mary logs into OptumHealthBank.com, she will be able to view and manage her investment account along with her HSA. 

While we can't predict how much Mary’s investments might earn or lose, they are generally a good long-term investment for someone trying to save money for medical expenses in the future, possibly in retirement. 

* Hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes only. All events, persons and results described herein are entirely fictitious and amounts will vary depending on your unique circumstances. Any resemblance to real events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.  Current rates are variable and may change at any time. Consult a qualified legal, tax or financial advisor for your specific situation.  Example presumes an unchanging APY of 1.00% over five years. Interest rates may vary over time and may be higher or lower than the example shows.  Fees may reduce earnings on account.