Dental insurance vs cash
Compare dental insurance premiums, deductibles, and the $1,500 annual cap against paying cash for cleanings, fillings, and crowns.
Expected-year plan advantage
+$2,891/yr
Plan A ($2,489/yr) vs Plan B ($5,380/yr) at $3,500 medical billsExample calculationPlan A (HDHP + HSA) saves $2,891/yr at $3,500 in medical bills
Lower payroll premiums ($2,400/yr saved) plus $1,491 in employer HSA seed and tax savings more than offset the higher deductible. In a worst-case hospital year, Plan A net cost is $5,189 vs $8,080 on Plan B.
Plan A (HDHP + HSA) net cost
$2,489/yr
Premium $1,680 - $1,491 HSA + $2,300 carePlan B (PPO) net cost
$5,380/yr
Premium $4,080 + $1,300 careHealthy year ($500 bills)
+$3,891/yr
HDHP $689 vs PPO $4,580 ($500 bills)Worst-case year (OOP max)
+$2,891/yr
HDHP $5,189 vs PPO $8,080 (OOP max)Annual cost breakdown: Plan A (HDHP + HSA) vs Plan B (PPO)
| Cost component | Plan A (HDHP + HSA) | Plan B (PPO) | Plan A advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual employee payroll premiums | $1,680 | $4,080 | +$2,400 |
| Employer HSA seed + HSA tax savings | -$1,491 | $0 | +$1,491 |
| Fixed annual net cost (at $0 medical bills) | $189 | $4,080 | +$3,891 |
| Out-of-pocket medical bills (expected year) | $2,300 | $1,300 | -$1,000 |
| Total net annual cost (expected year) | $2,489 | $5,380 | +$2,891 |
| Worst-case net annual cost ($25k hospital year) | $5,189 | $8,080 | +$2,891 |
Total annual net cost across medical bill levels ($0 to $20,000)
How this health plan comparison works
During open enrollment, many employees avoid a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) because a $2,000 to $4,000 deductible looks painful compared with a $750 PPO deductible. Yet every dollar of PPO premium comes out of your paycheck whether you visit a doctor or not. This calculator adds your 12 monthly payroll premiums to your deductible and coinsurance at each medical spending level, then subtracts your employer's HSA deposit and the income plus FICA payroll tax saved on your own HSA contributions.
A planning estimate based on your inputs and the assumptions shown. Actual costs and eligibility may differ. This tool compares cost-sharing arithmetic from your Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) and is not insurance, medical, or tax advice.
Benchmark sources and dates
Starting assumptions are example benchmarks, not binding quotes. Change any input to match your own bills or offers.
| Assumption / Input | Starting value | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan A (HDHP) & Plan B (PPO) monthly employee premiums and deductibles | `$140/mo` HDHP (`$2,000` ded) vs `$340/mo` PPO (`$750` ded) | KFF Employer Health Benefits Survey | 2026-10-14 |
| Employer HSA seed and employee pre-tax HSA contribution | `$750` employer seed, `$2,500` employee contribution | Internal Revenue Service Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans | 2026-10-14 |
| Combined marginal income + FICA payroll tax rate on HSA contributions | `29.65%` (`22%` federal + `7.65%` FICA) | Internal Revenue Service Topic No. 751: Social Security and Medicare Withholding Rates | 2026-10-14 |
| Annual in-network out-of-pocket maximums | `$5,000` HDHP / `$4,000` PPO | HealthCare.gov Out-of-Pocket Maximum/Limit Glossary | 2026-10-14 |