Why can't I deduct my health insurance premiums?

Asked by: Watson Muller  |  Last update: May 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (22 votes)

If you pay for health insurance coverage before taxes are taken out of your employer's paycheck, you can't deduct your health insurance premiums. (Generally speaking, you can only claim qualified medical expenses as a post-tax deduction if they were paid for with after-tax earnings.)

Why am I not getting a premium tax credit for health insurance?

Why am I not seeing a Premium Tax Credit? 2020 Why am I not seeing a Premium Tax Credit? 2020 Your income is too low. To qualify for the credit, your income (Modified AGI) had to be at least 100% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $19460 for a household size of two.

Can I deduct my own health insurance premiums?

Are health insurance premiums tax deductible? Yes, they are deductible if you have qualifying insurance and if you're an eligible self-employed individual. Qualifying health insurance includes medical insurance, qualifying long-term care coverage and all Medicare premiums (Parts A, B, C and D).

What happens if employer forgets to deduct health insurance premiums?

Start by contacting the State Attorney General's Office and seek to have charges brought against the employer. Then get your attorney and file this as a class action suit against the employer to recover all of the premiums they took and never paid AND your medical expenses as well.

Do you get a tax refund for health insurance?

(updated Feb. 24, 2022) A1. The Premium Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit designed to help eligible individuals and families with low or moderate income afford health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the Exchange.

Are Health Insurance Premiums Tax Deductible?

15 related questions found

Can you get a refund for health insurance premiums?

Federal/State Law

Federal law allows a refundable premium tax credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Does paying for health insurance reduce your taxable income?

Employer-paid premiums for health insurance are exempt from federal income and payroll taxes. Additionally, the portion of premiums employees pay is typically excluded from taxable income. The exclusion of premiums lowers most workers' tax bills and thus reduces their after-tax cost of coverage.

How does not having health insurance affect your tax return?

A family of four without adequate health insurance coverage could face a penalty of at least $2,700. A percentage of the household income: 2.5% of all gross household income over the tax filing threshold.

How does employer health insurance affect tax return?

Reporting the cost of health care coverage on the Form W-2 does not mean that the coverage is taxable. The value of the employer's excludable contribution to health coverage continues to be excludable from an employee's income, and it is not taxable.

Can an employer make you pay back insurance premiums?

Summary. Under California employment law, an employer generally cannot require an employee to repay health insurance premiums. The employer's business practice may violate California employment laws.

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.

Can seniors deduct health insurance premiums?

Medical expenses are often one of the largest expenses for retired people. 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.

Is it legal to self pay if you have health insurance?

Now that you know that it is legal to self-pay when you have insurance, here are a few situations where it may make sense to directly pay for the medical procedure or service without filing a claim with your provider.

Why are health insurance premiums not tax deductible?

If you pay for health insurance coverage before taxes are taken out of your employer's paycheck, you can't deduct your health insurance premiums. (Generally speaking, you can only claim qualified medical expenses as a post-tax deduction if they were paid for with after-tax earnings.)

Who cannot claim premium credit?

To be eligible for the premium tax credit, your household income must be at least 100 percent and, for years other than 2021 and 2022, no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, although there are two exceptions for individuals with household income below 100 percent of the applicable ...

Why do I owe taxes for health insurance?

Owe taxes if you used more of the premium tax credit than you qualified for in 2024. You'll have to report the excess amount on your 2024 tax return by filing Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PDF, 115 KB). Find instructions for Form 8962 (PDF, 348 KB).

Can I claim my health insurance on taxes?

If you get insurance in the Health Insurance Marketplace: You can deduct the full cost of your health care premiums from your taxable income — even if you don't itemize your taxes.

How does the premium tax credit affect my tax return?

You'll need to use Tax Form 8962 to determine your eligibility for the PTC. If you use more of the PTC than your final taxable income allows, you may need to repay the difference when you file your taxes, but if you use less than you qualify for, you may receive the difference as a refundable credit on your return.

Are health insurance premiums reimbursed by employer taxable income?

When an HRA complies with federal rules, employers can reimburse medical expenses, such as health insurance premiums, with money free of payroll taxes for both the employer and employee. An HRA is also free of income tax for the employee.

Is it better to have health insurance deducted before or after taxes?

Q: Will this change the amount I pay for medical insurance? A: No, However, paying your medical insurance premiums in pre-tax dollars instead of after-tax dollars will reduce the total amount of your taxable income, and so less money will be withheld in Social Security and income taxes.

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.

What is insurance premium tax credit?

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.

Can I deduct health insurance premiums if I am retired?

Health insurance premiums can be tax deductible when you retire, but it depends on several factors such as your age, the type of health insurance plan that you have and whether you are self-employed or not.

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.

Is dental insurance tax deductible?

The IRS considers dental insurance premiums to be spending towards something that prevents or alleviates disease, and therefore eligible to be deducted. Internal Revenue Service. "Publication 502 (2022), Medical and Dental Expenses."