Is a Health Insurance Premium Tax Deductible?

If you have health insurance provided by your employer, but you also pay health insurance premiums, you may include the out-of-pocket portion of your premiums as medical expenses if you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return. If your employer does not provide health insurance, you may count your entire premium toward the medical expense deduction. Your medical expenses must exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. Beginning Dec. 12, 2012, your medical expenses must exceed 10 percent of your AGI to be eligible for the deduction.

If you are self-employed and buy your own health insurance, you may deduct your entire insurance premium on Form 1040, even if you do not itemize your deductions. The policy must be established in your name or in the name of your business. You must also not have the option of health care coverage from another source, such as your spouse's employer-provided policy.

If you have a high-deductible health insurance policy to save money on premiums, you may end up with huge out-of-pocket costs if you actually get sick. To lessen the financial bite, the IRS has established several savings plans for covering health care costs not covered by your insurance premiums. Health Savings Accounts are established by employers, but primarily or exclusively funded by employees. You can deduct contributions to a HSA on your federal income taxes even if you don't itemize deductions. Contributions made by your employer can be subtracted from your gross income. If you're self-employed with a high deductible insurance policy, you may establish a Medical Savings Account and deduct your contributions from your federal income taxes, even if you don't itemize.

If you're eligible for the Health Coverage Tax Credit, you can have up to 72.5 percent of your health insurance premiums covered by the federal government. The requirements are strict: You must pay at least 50 percent of the premiums of an eligible health insurance policy, and you cannot be a dependent on another person's tax return. You must be receiving "Trade Adjustment Assistance" benefits, or at least 55 years old and receiving pension payments from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Your spouse and family may also be eligible. You can receive the benefit as a monthly payment or as a lump sum by filing Form 8885 with your federal income tax return, even if you don't itemize deductions.