What counts as insurance premiums are tax deductible?

Asked by: Leora Haley  |  Last update: January 22, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (74 votes)

Yes. You can deduct medical, dental, and long-term care insurance premiums if you're self-employed. You can also deduct business-related insurance premiums.

How do I know if my insurance premiums are tax deductible?

As with employer-sponsored insurance, however, you can only claim the deduction if you itemize — and only if your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for the year. If you use HSA funds to pay for COBRA premiums or expenses, these are also not eligible for a deduction.

What insurance premiums are not tax deductible?

Business Insurance Premiums That Are Not Tax Deductible

Certain life insurance or annuity premiums. Premiums paid on insurance to secure loans. Premiums paid for a policy that covers earnings lost due to sickness or disability.

Do insurance premiums count towards deductible?

For example, if you have a $2,000 yearly deductible, you'll need to pay the first $2,000 of your total eligible medical costs before your plan helps to pay. A deductible is separate from the monthly premium you pay.

In which of the following instances would the premium be tax deductible?

In summary, premiums that are directly related to business operations (like those for a key person or group term life insurance for employees) are usually tax deductible, while premiums for personal policies (such as those for family members or oneself) are generally not tax deductible.

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36 related questions found

Can you deduct car insurance on taxes?

If you use your car strictly for personal use, you likely cannot deduct your car insurance costs on your tax return. Unless you use your car for business-related purposes, you are likely ineligible to claim your auto insurance premium on your tax return.

Do health insurance premiums reduce your taxable income?

Tax savings on insurance premiums (TIP)

If you enroll in a medical plan that requires you to pay a premium, you'll be automatically enrolled for pretax deduction of your premium costs from your paycheck. This reduces your taxable income and increases your take-home pay.

What counts as insurance premiums?

An insurance premium is the amount you pay each month (or each year) to keep your insurance policy active. Your premium amount is determined by many factors, including risk, coverage amount and more – depending on the type of insurance you have. This does not apply to all types of life insurance.

What does not count towards deductible?

These are commonly called “out-of-pocket costs,” and they don't count toward your deductible. They include things like: Premium: The amount you pay each month for your plan. Copay or coinsurance: Specific cost-shares when you get care, like a $10 copay or 20% coinsurance.

How can I hit my deductible fast?

How to Meet Your Deductible
  1. Order a 90-day supply of your prescription medicine. Spend a bit of extra money now to meet your deductible and ensure you have enough medication to start the new year off right.
  2. See an out-of-network doctor. ...
  3. Pursue alternative treatment. ...
  4. Get your eyes examined.

Are homeowners insurance premiums 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.

Are insurance premiums tax deductible for seniors?

Fortunately, some medical expenses are deductible. These include health insurance premiums (including Medicare premiums), long-term care insurance premiums, prescription drugs, nursing home care, and most other out-of-pocket heath care expenses.

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.

What insurance premiums are not deductible?

For example, employer-sponsored premiums paid under a premium conversion plan, cafeteria plan, or any other medical and dental expenses paid by the plan aren't deductible unless the premiums are included in box 1 of your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement. Funeral or burial expenses.

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.

How can I check my insurance deductible?

A deductible can be either a specific dollar amount or a percentage of the total amount of insurance on a policy. The amount is established by the terms of your coverage and can be found on the declarations (or front) page of standard homeowners, condo owners, renters, and auto insurance policies.

Does your monthly premium go towards your deductible?

No, your premium does not go towards your deductible, and it doesn't count for your out-of-pocket maximum (the most you'll pay for care each year). But deductibles and premiums flow into one another. They have an inverse relationship. When one is more affordable, the other tends to be more expensive.

Do prescriptions count towards your deductible?

Your health plan generally will treat the drug as covered and charge you the copayment that applies to the most expensive drugs already covered on the plan (for example, a non-preferred brand drug). Any amount you pay for the drug generally will count toward your deductible and/or maximum out-of-pocket limits.

What is exempt from deductible?

Note that some services—like preventive care, and on some plans, generic drugs—aren't subject to the deductible or to a copay, which means you don't have to pay anything for that care.

Can you count 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.

What is an insurance premium example?

The average homeowners insurance premium is $1,820 a year, NerdWallet's January 2024 rates analysis found. Homeowners insurance premiums are based on a variety of factors, such as the building's location and value, your credit score in most states, your claims history and the amount of coverage you want to buy.

What is the formula for calculating insurance premium?

Premium = Own damage premium – (No claim bonus + discounts) + Liability Premium as fixed by the IRDAI + Cost of Add-ons. The following factors determine the premium value of the insured car: Age of the Insured - Those individuals who are below the age of 25 and above 18 are considered to be more prone to accidents.

Are copays tax deductible?

If you are itemizing and entering medical expenses, yes, you can include co-pays and other out of pocket expenses that were not covered by insurance. The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return.

What decreases your taxable income?

There are a few methods recommended by experts that you can use to reduce your taxable income. These include contributing to an employee contribution plan such as a 401(k), contributing to a health savings account (HSA) or a flexible spending account (FSA), and contributing to a traditional IRA.

Are dental insurance premiums tax deductible?

Dental insurance premiums may be tax-deductible if they are for procedures that help prevent or alleviate dental disease. Costs for cosmetics procedures are not considered tax deductible.