My family was covered by a high deductible health plan all year. payroll deductions + employer contributions total $7k. why is turbotax treating this amount as excess?

If TurboTax is treating the entire amount as excess, it must think you are not entitled to an HSA.

I am going to assume that you are not enrolled in Medicare (which makes you not eligible for an HSA).

It seems likely that you have answered a question wrong in the HSA area. I would walk back through all the questions and make sure they are answered correctly. Make sure you have entered any 1099SA that you have received as well. 

If this does not work for you, I would delete Form 8889, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), from the program and start again. 

To Delete Form 8889, Health Savings Accounts (HSA), for TurboTax Online:

• In the left-hand black menu, choose Tax Tools then Tools.
•  Click on Delete a Form from the window that pops up.
•  You should now see the Review Form List. Scroll down the list and click Delete on Form 8889.
• You may get a pop up telling you additional worksheets and forms are being deleted. Approve and click delete.
• You should come back to the Review Form List. Scroll to the bottom and click Continue with My Return.

Thanks for the responses. I did get it to go away, but it was hard to find the spot where the questions were and I doubt I could navigate back to it.