Are refunds of long-term care premiums taxable?

Asked by: Estelle Hyatt V  |  Last update: September 6, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (4 votes)

Return of Premium The refund is included in the beneficiary's gross income and is taxable, to the extent it was either excluded from the owner's income or deducted by the owner. It must be included as income in the year it is received.

Is the long-term care insurance premium refund taxable?

According to the Internal Revenue Service (Publication 525), long-term care insurance is treated much like health insurance—the dollar amounts the policyholder receives (other than dividends and premium refunds) for personal injury or sickness generally are excludable from income, and the premiums paid generally are ...

Do I have to report long-term care benefits on tax return?

Do I have to report benefits from a Long-Term Care Insurance policy to the IRS? Generally, no. Tax-qualified Long-Term Care Insurance benefits come to you tax-free. Insurance companies that pay long-term care insurance benefits are required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide claimants with a 1099 LTC.

Is an insurance premium refund taxable?

For individual market consumers who purchased their coverage with after‐tax dollars, a rebate is not taxable income. However, if an individual deducted the prior year's premium payments on their Form 1040 Schedule A, then their MLR rebate is subject to federal income tax.

Do you pay taxes on return of premium life insurance?

Key Takeaways

They offer both a death benefit and a savings component. ROP policies have higher premiums than standard term life insurance. The refund you receive is typically tax-free. It's important to compare quotes and consider your individual needs before purchasing.

Is Long Term Care Insurance Tax Deductible? [Dan Tripp]

34 related questions found

Do you have to report life insurance proceeds on tax return?

Answer: Generally, life insurance proceeds you receive as a beneficiary due to the death of the insured person, aren't includable in gross income and you don't have to report them. However, any interest you receive is taxable and you should report it as interest received.

What is return of premium term life insurance?

Return of premium life insurance is a type of term life insurance that allows you to collect your premium payments if you outlive your selected term. To make this possible, this insurance plan can be more expensive.

Are health insurance premium rebates taxable?

In general, rebates are taxable if you pay health insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars or you received tax benefits by deducting premiums you paid on your tax return. Talk with your tax preparer to determine if you need to report your rebate as income when you file your next tax return.

Is cashing out a life insurance policy taxable?

Cashing out your policy

You're able to withdraw up to the amount of the total premiums you've paid into the policy without paying taxes. But if you withdraw on any gains, such as dividends, you can expect them to be taxed as ordinary income.

How can I avoid paying back my premium tax credit?

Report any changes in your income during the year to the Marketplace, so your credit can be adjusted and you can avoid any significant repayments at the end of the year.

Can I deduct long term care premiums on my federal taxes?

Key takeaways: Long-term care health insurance premiums may be deductible on your tax return — up to a certain limit — based on the insured person's age. You must itemize deductions in order to deduct your premiums.

Is cashing out a long-term care policy taxable?

You'll be taxed on the amount you received minus the policy basis, or the total premium payment you made on the policy. The difference between the total premiums paid and the total surrender value will be taxable income.

Do you report 1099-LTC on tax return TurboTax?

You can enter your 1099-LTC and determine if any of the Long Term Care payments you received are taxable in any version of TurboTax other than the Online Free version. You'll receive Form 1099-LTC if you get money from long-term insurance or life insurance under an accelerated death benefits clause.

How to report long-term care benefits on tax return?

Gross LTC Payments Received on a Per Diem - Enter the total Form(s) 1099-LTC Box 1 payments received on a per diem basis. Qualified LTC Insurance Contracts Included in Amount Above - Enter the amount included in gross payments from Form(s) 1099-LTC with Box 4 checked.

Is reimbursement of health insurance premiums taxable?

Employees pay their provider or insurance company for their health care costs, then submit proof of payment to be reimbursed by the QSEHRA. Reimbursement is tax-free.

Are long-term care premiums tax deductible in 2024?

For 2024, individuals over the age of 70 can deduct up to $5,880 in long-term care premiums. To be considered qualified, these policies must adhere to the guidelines established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996.

Do you get a 1099 for life insurance proceeds?

In most cases, your cost (or investment in the contract) is the total of premiums that you paid for the life insurance policy, less any refunded premiums, rebates, dividends, or unrepaid loans that weren't included in your income. You should receive a Form 1099-R showing the total proceeds and the taxable part.

What happens when a policy is surrendered for its cash value?

Your cash surrender value is the amount of cash you've built minus any surrender charges or fees. Those charges diminish with time, so the longer you've had your account, the closer the cash surrender value will be to the cash value. In most cases, your policy's cash surrender value will be paid in a lump sum.

Do you have to pay taxes on money received as a beneficiary?

If you received a gift or inheritance, do not include it in your income. However, if the gift or inheritance later produces income, you will need to pay tax on that income.

How to handle MLR rebates?

Here's how employers can use MLR rebates:
  1. Distribute Rebates to Employees: ...
  2. Reduce Future Premiums:Another option is to apply the rebate to reduce future premiums for employees currently covered under the plan. ...
  3. Enhance Health Benefits:Employers can also use the MLR rebate to improve the health benefits they offer.

Do you claim health insurance premiums on your taxes?

You can include health insurance premiums in your medical expense calculations. However, certain premiums are not eligible for medical expense deductions. You cannot include the following premiums in your tax deductions: Life insurance policies.

Is an insurance rebate income or expense?

You do not have to include it as income on your tax return as long as you did not take an itemized deduction for the premiums on last year's return. The rebate represents an adjustment of your Marketplace plan premiums. Please see the last question of the IRS Q&A on Medical Loss Ratio rebates.

Is return of premium taxable?

The payout from a return of premium rider is tax-free because it is considered a return of principal.

What is the return of premium for long term care?

Return of Premium (ROP) is a feature on many hybrid long-term care insurance (LTC) policies that refunds your premiums—fully or partially—if you never end up needing long-term care. At first glance, this added protection seems like the perfect way to ensure your premiums don't go to waste.

What are the disadvantages of return of premium life insurance?

Cons
  • Higher premiums: You'll pay a decent amount more than with traditional term coverage. ...
  • No refund for riders or extras: The fine print matters here. ...
  • No refunds for term life cancelations: If you cancel your policy or miss payments, that refund guarantee is gone.