Can I write off long term care premiums?

Asked by: Shania Mitchell  |  Last update: July 28, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (15 votes)

You may be eligible to deduct qualified long-term care expenses that exceed 7.5% of your AGI. Qualified expenses include any expenses to treat, cure, or improve any type of health condition. This includes the inability to care for yourself. Long-term care insurance premiums fall on the list of IRS-approved expenses.

Can I deduct my long-term care insurance premiums?

by TurboTax• 129• Updated 5 days ago. For 2024, you can deduct long-term care insurance costs if you itemize your deductions instead of taking the Standard Deduction. Like other medical expense deductions, you can only deduct what exceeds 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

When did long-term care premiums become tax deductible?

Congress passed legislation effective in 1997 that established the tax treatment of premiums paid for and the benefits paid/reimbursed by long-term care insurance policies that met certain federal standards. This legislation is called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or HIPAA.

Are health care premiums tax deductible?

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.

Are term life premiums tax deductible?

Life insurance premiums, whether term or whole life, are generally not tax deductible. However, there are some limited exceptions. You can claim life insurance premiums on your taxes if: The life insurance was court-ordered before 2019 to safeguard alimony or child support.

Long-Term Care Insurance Tax Deductions & Tax Free Benefits

44 related questions found

Can I claim my life insurance premiums on my taxes?

The short answer: Life insurance premiums generally aren't tax income deductible, but when a death benefit2 is paid out, that is generally subject to income taxes.

Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?

The medical expense deduction covers a wide variety of expenses. However, because of the high Standard Deduction and the 7.5% of AGI threshold requirement, it can be difficult to benefit unless you have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.

Are long-term care benefits taxable in 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.

Can you get tax credit for health insurance premiums?

The premium tax credit – also known as PTC – is a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Is homeowners insurance tax deductible?

You may look for ways to reduce costs including turning to your tax return. Some taxpayers have asked if homeowner's insurance is tax deductible. Here's the skinny: You can only deduct homeowner's insurance premiums paid on rental properties. Homeowner's insurance is never tax deductible your main home.

What is the biggest drawback of long-term care insurance?

One of the biggest drawbacks of getting long-term care insurance is the risk of losing all the premiums you have paid over the years. If you end up not needing long-term care services, you won't be eligible for coverage. This means the money you've spent for coverage goes down the drain.

What makes a LTC policy tax qualified?

A tax-qualified plan must be guaranteed renewable, which means the insurance company can't cancel your coverage because of a change in your health or age. As long as you pay your premiums and have not used all of your benefits, your coverage will continue.

Which of the following is not an allowable exclusion for long-term insurance policies?

The correct answer is: b. Acute care Explanation: 1. Acute care is not an allowable exclusion for long-term insurance policies. Acute care refers to the treatment of short-term illnesses or injuries that require immediate medical attention and are typically covered by health insurance policies.

Are hybrid LTC premiums tax deductible?

Hybrid or linked-benefit long-term care insurance policies generally do NOT qualify for a premium tax deduction. However, a few insurers do meet the "tax qualified" standards and part of the hybrid long-term care premium may be deductible.

How can I reduce my long-term care premiums?

Insurance companies may offer you several options to adjust your benefits to make your policy more affordable:
  1. Shorten the Benefit Period. o This changes how many years the policy will pay for care. ...
  2. Lower the Daily Benefit Amount. ...
  3. Reduce or Remove Inflation Protection. ...
  4. Paid-Up Policy. ...
  5. Cash Benefit.

What is the age limit for long-term care insurance?

While there is no set age in which you can no longer purchase long-term care insurance, the oldest age at which most insurance companies will issue a new long-term care insurance policy typically falls within the range of 75 to 80 years old.

Are my healthcare premiums tax deductible?

If you paid the premiums for a policy you obtained yourself, (such as through the marketplace) your health insurance premium is deductible when they are out-of-pocket costs.

What disqualifies you from the premium tax credit?

For tax years other than 2021 and 2022, if your household income on your tax return is more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, you are not allowed a premium tax credit and will have to repay all of the advance credit payments made on behalf of you and your tax family members.

How does the health care tax credit affect my tax return?

The credit is “refundable” because, if the amount of the credit is more than the amount of your tax liability, you will receive the difference as a refund. If you owe no tax, you can get the full amount of the credit as a refund.

How are long term care premiums tax deductible?

Tax-qualified LTCi premiums are considered a medical expense. For an individual who itemizes tax deductions, medical expenses are deductible to the extent that they exceed current amount required to meet the individual's Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

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.

Are refunds of long term care premiums taxable?

Long-term care insurance premiums could also have been paid tax-free through an HSA. The short answer is that the premium refund will only be taxable if you previously received a tax benefit from paying the premiums, such as taking one of the possible tax deductions or paying the premiums with tax free money.

How much of a tax break do you get for medical expenses?

The IRS allows all taxpayers to deduct their total qualified unreimbursed medical care expenses that exceed 7.5% of their adjusted gross income if the taxpayer uses IRS Schedule A to itemize their deductions.

Can you deduct Medicare premiums?

Yes, Medicare premiums are tax deductible as a medical expense as long as you meet two requirements. First, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return to deduct them from your taxable income. Second, only medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) are deductible.

Are nursing home costs tax deductible?

Yes, in certain instances nursing home expenses are deductible medical expenses. If you, your spouse, or your dependent is in a nursing home primarily for medical care, then the nursing home cost not compensated for by insurance or otherwise (including meals and lodging) is deductible as a medical expense.