Editor’s Note: Originally published December 2024. Updated for 2026 deductible limits.
Have you been thinking “Are health care insurance premiums tax deductible?” lately? That’s fair to wonder especially when research predicts that nearly 70% of Americans will require long-term care at some point in their lives. With the high costs associated with health care and long-term care, understanding how to benefit from long-term care tax deductions for insurance premiums is only wise. It can significantly reduce your financial burden.
Health care and long-term care insurance are essential for protecting your finances against unexpected medical expenses and finding answers to “Is long-term care insurance tax deductible?” and other questions can help you maximize your benefits while minimizing your tax liability. This guide will help you with that, read along.
Eligibility Criteria for Deducting Health Care and Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums
To qualify for deductions on both health care and long-term care (LTC) premiums, you need to meet specific criteria:
Who Qualifies
You can deduct premiums if you pay for your own health insurance or if you are self-employed. This includes premiums paid for your spouse and dependents. If you’re a business owner, you may also deduct premiums paid for employees.
Itemizing vs. Standard Deduction
To claim deductions for health care and LTC insurance premiums, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return. If you choose the standard deduction, which was $13,850 for single filers in 2023, you cannot claim these premiums.
Specific Conditions
Health care and LTC premiums are deductible only if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) for the tax year.
Deduction Limits Based on Age for Long-Term Care Insurance
The IRS has set specific limits on the deductibility of long-term care insurance premiums based on your age:
Attained Age Before Close of Taxable Year 2026 Limit (2025)…
– 40 or less $500 ($480) – More than 40 but not more than 50 $930 ($900) – More than 50 but not more than 60 $1,860 ($1,800) – More than 60 but not more than 70 $4,960 ($4,810) – More than 70 $6,200 ($6,020)
Deductibility of Health Care Insurance Premiums
Now, when it comes to your health care insurance premiums, you can get them under particular conditions:
When They Are DeductibleYou can get your health insurance premiums deducted if you pay them with after-tax dollars and if your total medical expenses surpass 7.5 percent of your AGI.
Non-Deductibility for Employer-Sponsored PlansIf your health insurance premiums are deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis through an employer-sponsored plan, you cannot claim these amounts as deductions since you’ve already benefited from tax savings.For example, if you’re paying $300 a month for health insurance through your employer’s plan that deducts pre-tax dollars from your paycheck, this amount is not eligible for deduction.
Self-Employed Individuals and Deductibility
If you are a self-employed individual, you can enjoy special provisions regarding the deductibility of health care and LTC insurance premiums:
No AGI Threshold
Unlike traditional employees, self-employed individuals can deduct their health insurance premiums without needing to meet the 7.5% AGI threshold. This means you can lower your taxable income by the full amount of their premium payments.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this deduction, you must not have access to an employer-subsidized health plan during the months you claim the deduction.
Non-Deductible Medical Expenses
When it comes to tax deductions for medical expenses, not everything qualifies. Here’s a list of common medical expenses that you cannot deduct:
Cosmetic ProceduresAny cosmetic surgery or treatment aimed at improving appearance rather than health is not deductible. This includes procedures like facelifts, liposuction, and Botox injections.
Health Club DuesMembership fees for gyms or health clubs are generally not deductible, even if you join to improve your health.
Nutritional SupplementsWhile some dietary supplements may be beneficial for health, they are not considered deductible medical expenses unless prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition.
Non-Prescription MedicationsOver-the-counter medications, such as pain relievers or cold medicine, do not qualify for deductions. Only prescription medications can be deducted.
Expenses Covered by InsuranceIf your health insurance covers certain expenses, you cannot deduct those amounts. For example, if your insurer pays for a procedure or treatment, you cannot claim that cost on your taxes.
Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Policies
To be eligible for tax deductions, the long-term care insurance policies you choose must meet specific IRS standards:
Definition and Characteristics: A qualified LTC policy must provide coverage for necessary diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, rehabilitative, maintenance, or personal care services.
IRS Standards Compliance: Make sure that your policy meets IRS guidelines regarding coverage duration and benefits to qualify for deductions. To qualify, ensure your LTCI policy meets the following criteria:
It must be guaranteed renewable.
It cannot provide a cash surrender value or any other money that can be paid or assigned as collateral.
Any refunds of premiums must reduce future premiums or increase future benefits.
Washington State Considerations for Health and Long-Term Care Tax Deductions
Washington State has unique tax considerations that may impact you as a resident seeking deductions:
No State Income Tax: Washington does not impose a state income tax. This means you won’t pay state taxes on your income, but it also affects how you approach deductions since there’s no state income tax deduction available. You’ll want to focus on maximizing federal deductions instead.
WA Cares Fund: This state program provides long-term care benefits funded by a payroll tax. Starting in 2022, employees in Washington contribute to the WA Cares Fund to help cover the costs of long-term care services. Understanding how this program works is crucial because it may impact your need for private long-term care insurance. If you plan to rely on the WA Cares Fund in the future, consider how it fits into your overall long-term care planning strategy.
Strategies to Maximize Tax Benefits for Health and Long-Term Care Insurance
To make the most of your tax deductions related to health and long-term care insurance, follow these strategies:
Plan AheadKeep detailed records of all medical expenses throughout the year to see if you meet the threshold for itemizing deductions.
Consult a Tax ProfessionalWork with a CPA or tax advisor who understands the nuances of health and long-term care insurance deductions.
Review Policy TypesEvaluate different types of health and LTC policies available to you. Look for those that offer maximum benefits while meeting IRS standards for deductions.
Stay Informed About ChangesTax laws can change frequently. Regularly review updates that may affect your eligibility for deductions or the amounts you can claim.
Final Thoughts – Making the Most of Tax Deductions for Health and Long-Term Care Insurance
All in all, understanding how health care and long-term care insurance premiums fit into your tax strategy is essential. By staying informed about eligibility criteria, deduction limits, and special provisions for self-employed individuals, you can significantly reduce your taxable income while securing necessary coverage.
For personalized guidance on choosing the right coverage and understanding available tax advantages, contact Lavine LTC today! Our expert team is here to help you navigate long-term care insurance effectively.
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Accessibility Statement
www.lavineltcins.com
December 6, 2025
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We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
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To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
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Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
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alongside console screenshots of code examples:
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In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
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These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
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Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
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Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
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We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
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