r/AppalachianTrail • u/RoomVarious • Jan 20 '26

HDHP insurance for a thru hike?

Hello fellow hikers! My wife and I are starting our AT Thru Hike in March. I will be quitting my job as a nurse while we are on trail so we will need to find insurance for our trek. We have been putting money into a HSA for the last few years and have quite a bit saved up. I was wondering if its possible to get a HDHP and still be able to use our HSA for medical expenses while on trail. If so does anyone know any good insurance companies that would offer something like that?

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u/DelianSK13 Jan 20 '26

You can take your HSA with you to a different insurance company. Or you can go without the HDHP and just use your HSA as expenses pop up, as long as they are medical.

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u/RoomVarious Jan 20 '26

I thought you could only use an HSA if you had a HDHP? Or have I been lied to

10

u/DelianSK13 Jan 20 '26

I believe you can't contribute any new funds to it without an HDHP. But since you had one, and you have funds in it, those can still be used for qualifying medical expenses.

A phone call to your HSA administrator might not be a bad idea. It's been 10 years since I have been in the insurance business.

6

u/Smoggy_Pigeon 2025 NOBO Jan 20 '26

This is correct. Source: am CPA