Is long-term care insurance taxable in the IRS?

Asked by: Abdul Prosacco Sr.  |  Last update: September 6, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (68 votes)

Fortunately, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides some clarifications. In general, the income from a long-term care insurance policy is non-taxable, and the premiums paid to buy the insurance are tax deductible.

Are long-term care benefits taxed by the IRS?

Generally, no. Tax-qualified Long-Term Care Insurance benefits come to you tax-free.

Where to report long-term care premiums on tax return?

Qualified long-term care premiums up to the amounts shown below can be included as medical expenses on Schedule A (Form 1040), Itemized Deductions, or in calculating the self-employed health insurance deduction.

Can I deduct long-term care insurance premiums on my taxes?

Long-term care insurance premiums are tax-deductible up to certain limits — which are based on your age. Here are the long-term care insurance deduction limits for the 2023 tax year (note: limits are based on your age on the last day of the tax year): 40 years old or younger: $480. 41 to 50 years old: $890.

Do I have to pay taxes on money received from a life insurance policy?

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.

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

31 related questions found

Will I receive a 1099 for life insurance proceeds?

You should receive a Form 1099-R showing the total proceeds and the taxable part. Report these amounts on lines 5a and 5b of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. To report the proceeds from a policy surrendered for cash, go to our Form 1099-R - Entering Distributions from Retirement Plans FAQ.

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.

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.

How long do you pay premiums for long-term care insurance?

Traditional long-term care insurance policies: You can choose the amount of coverage, how long it lasts, and how long you must wait before receiving benefits. Typically, you pay an annual premium for life, although your premium payment period could be shorter.

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.

Do I need to report 1099-LTC on tax return?

Receiving Form 1099-LTC in the mail may be intimidating at first glance, but as a taxpayer and recipient of these benefits, you only need to use the information on the form to report payments on your federal tax return.

Is return of premium long-term care taxable?

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.

Are eyeglasses tax-deductible?

The money spent on reading or prescription eyeglasses can be considered a tax-deductible medical expense. By categorizing glasses under "medical expenses" and itemizing deductions on form 104, Schedule A, you may be able to lower your tax burden.

Where do I put long-term care insurance on my tax return?

Proceed through the medical expenses section and go past the Tell us about anything paid for long-term care services screen. This screen is for actual care expenses, not insurance premiums. When you reach How much did you spend on insurance premiums?, enter your gross (total) long-term care premiums.

What states are considering long-term care tax?

States Considering a Long-Term Care Tax

Here's a partial list of other states considering similar laws: Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon and Utah.

Is a buyout from a long-term care policy taxable?

Your Buyout Might Be Tax-Free

Taxability generally depends on whether you or your employer paid your insurance premiums. Non-taxable: You paid all of your premiums (check with your tax advisor). Partially Taxable: Both you and your employer contributed to your premiums (check with your tax advisor).

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 percentage of people with long-term care insurance actually use it?

If you purchase that type of coverage, your lifetime chance of using policy benefits will fall somewhere between 35% and 50% -- because most people buy this coverage and use it to get care in their own home. Finally, so many articles refer to a statistic you will not find on the Association's website.

Which of the following is not a requirement of a tax qualified long-term care policy?

Final answer: The correct answer to the question about which provision is not included in a tax-qualified long-term care policy is c) Age 65 requirement. Tax-qualified policies do not have an age requirement like being 65 years old for eligibility.

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.

What year did LTC 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 long-term care benefits taxable in the IRS?

"Generally, benefits received from a tax-qualified long-term care insurance policy are not considered taxable income. This means that if you have a policy that meets the criteria set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the benefits you receive from that policy are typically tax-free."

How much can you inherit without paying federal taxes?

While state laws differ for inheritance taxes, an inheritance must exceed a certain threshold to be considered taxable. For federal estate taxes as of 2024, if the total estate is under $13.61 million for an individual or $27.22 million for a married couple, there's no need to worry about estate taxes.

Does the IRS know when you inherit money?

In general, any inheritance you receive does not need to be reported to the IRS. You typically don't need to report inheritance money to the IRS because inheritances aren't considered taxable income by the federal government. That said, earnings made off of the inheritance may need to be reported.

Do I have to pay taxes on inherited life insurance money?

In general, the payout from a term, whole, or universal life insurance policy isn't considered part of the beneficiary's gross income. This means it isn't subject to income or estate taxes. Payout structure. Life insurance proceeds paid in a lump sum are generally received by the beneficiary tax-free.