We have an HDHP family plan and an HSA. We bought it ourselves on the exchange.
We can still deduct our contributions on our taxes, but we still pay taxes on it as income first.
Still worth it- absolutely.
As someone said, it brings your MAGI down, which can be good for your income taxes, but also any subsidies you might qualify for on the exchanges are based on your MAGI.
When you do the application, it asks you what your last year MAGI was, and you can subtract what you intend to put in your HSA for the upcoming year. Does that make sense?
Ex. last year MAGI was 65K family maximum HSA contribution for 2016 is$ 6750. Use $58250 as estimated income for application. That can help if you qualify for subsidies.
another benefit, you can invest the HSA contributions, and reimburse yourself anytime in the future for medical expenses, or spend them as you go.
IME, with our HSA, there is a separate deductible for prescriptions. We dont pay full price for the 3 my husband takes daily. He takes 3 heart medicines, and we paid about 300$ for all of our prescriptions this year, and that includes ear infections (2) and maybe another antibiotic or something. and they dont go towards our deductible.
Hope this helps.