I am 60, US pension, US high deductible ($2500) expat health insurance. I was wondering if I can open and use an HSA to pay my healthcare costs in CR and reduce my taxes?

[BMcCalpin · Accepted solution]

First, you have to contact your insurance carrier and confirm that you actually have HDHP coverage. An HDHP is more than just a high deductible.

If you actually have an HDHP, then yes, you can open an HSA and contribute to it IF you are not on Medicare and have no conflicting health care coverage. Once you go on Medicare you can't contribute to an HSA any longer.

Conflicting health care coverage is any other employer sponsored health care policy or (I suppose) state run tax-supported health care in CR.

See Pub 969 at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p969.pdf