topic If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment. in Deductions & credits

If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment.

laz_flow — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:32:22 GMT

I worked a new job last year for only two months and was very briefly enrolled in their HDHP. Eligibility for enrollment in the company's HDHP was available to me the first of the month after my first 30 days. I started in August, and therefore I became eligible in October. The plan also enrolled me in an HSA, of which $179 was contributed by my employer (I contributed nothing). I ended up leaving this job midway through October and never used any of the company's benefits, as I had kept my own marketplace insurance knowing I would likely be leaving this job soon. I am being asked to fill out a form 8889-T on TurboTax and it's asking me to select my HDHP coverage by the month, insisting I must have had coverage since I have HSA funds. Should I put that I was not covered any month by this plan or should I mark that I was covered in October, despite resigning halfway through the month?

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month...

DavidD66 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:58:08 GMT

You should indicate that you were covered by an HDHP for any month you had coverage even if it was only a partial month.

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment.

Mike9241 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:57:52 GMT

The rule in code section 223, is that to be able to contribute to an HSA for a month, you must be covered by a HDHP on the first day of that month and not have disqualifying coverage.

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment.

laz_flow — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:29:22 GMT

Thank you for your reply. Would having another insurance policy (i.e. my marketplace coverage) for the entire duration of my employment mean that I had disqualifying coverage? If this is the case, do I mark that I did not have HDHP coverage for any month on form 8889-T? I read online that I should contact my benefits provider to have them reclaim the HSA payment made by my employer--would you agree this is the correct thing to do in this case?

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment.

Mike9241 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:47:56 GMT

Can't answer your question because some marketplace policies are HDHP

to be a HDHP for a self-only policy

minimum annual deductible $1,650

maximum annual deductible and out-of-pocket excluding premiums $8,300

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month or not on form 8889-T? I have HSA funds from my brief 2 month employment.

laz_flow — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 19:15:33 GMT

Sorry for not including more information. My marketplace policy is actually an HMO. Only the plan offered by my employer that I was under for a brief 15 days was the HDHP.

Re: If I was only covered by a HDHP for half a month, do I mark that I was covered for that month...

DaveF1006 — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 19:45:05 GMT

No. The HMO is considered "disqualifying coverage" for any month in which you don't have the HDHP.