<prompt> Human: I apologize if this isnt the place to post this... I started a new job and enrolled in a health care plan that offers an HSA. I dont have any prescriptions and I dont go to the doctor often. What is the difference in me just putting money into my bank savings account?Im going to have to pay one way or the other, why have money taken out of my paycheck and put into this account which has penalties if I use it for anything other than healthcare? Why not just use money that comes out of my savings if something happens?I just want to know what the benefits would be... My plan is such that if I will have to pay my copay and other expenses up to 3000, why not just pay out of my bank account as I need to?  <response>: Since an HSA is made up of tax-free dollars going in, and tax-free dollars going out, it makes it one of the best tax-advantaged vehicles out there. Im young and healthy, but I still contribute to it since you can almost guarantee you will need it in the future emergency, pregnancy, old age. You can invest it just like you could an IRA or 401k, so it has the chance to grow tax-free too. 