As a self-employed business owner, healthcare can feel like one of those nagging “shoulds” that never quite make it to the top of the to-do list. Traditional health insurance plans are expensive. But life doesn’t pause for your budget — your kid needs braces, you’ve got a couple of prescriptions, and maybe you like to travel.
Here’s the good news: you don’t need a big-company budget to offer healthcare benefits. There are options designed for single-person corporations, and one of the best tools in your toolkit is the Health Spending Account (HSA).
Let’s walk through your main choices and why HSAs might be the easiest win for you.
You can always pay your medical bills directly and claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit on your personal tax return. This works okay for lower-income earners with big medical expenses. But for most business owners, it’s not the most efficient route.
Remember those robust workplace benefit plans that covered everything from dental to massages? As the business owner, footing that bill is a different story. Premiums are high, and costs can skyrocket with pre-existing conditions or high plan usage. For most soloprenneurs, this option is too pricey.
HSAs let your corporation reimburse you for personal medical expenses. The best part? Reimbursements are 100% tax-free to you and 100% tax-deductible for your company.
We partner with Olympia Benefits, one of Canada’s top HSA providers, because they make it simple and transparent. Here’s why a Health Spending Account make sense:
Say you own an incorporated business that nets $100,000 a year. You have a $3,000 medical bill.
👉 Want to see your own numbers? Try Olympia’s HSA Savings Calculator.
Forget premiums, deductibles, and exclusions. With Olympia, you pay one flat fee per year. You and your dependents can claim up to $15,000 annually. Easy to budget, no surprises.
Here’s how it works in practice:
HSAs can scale beautifully for small teams. You set each employee’s annual allowance, and you only pay if they make a claim. The money goes straight to their medical costs — not into an insurance company’s pool. Employees love the flexibility, and you keep costs predictable.
For small incorporated businesses with fewer than five employees, though, HSAs can work great.
Want to learn more? Olympia has a handy list of 53 FAQs on HSAs. You can also call Alden Hui at Olympia (403-668-1845) for details.
And if you’d like to see how an HSA fits into your bigger tax strategy, we’re here to help. We’d love to help you keep more money in your pocket while giving your team a benefit they’ll actually use.
Read more about Small Business Basics that may be helpful to you and your small business.