Can I Deduct Medicare Costs on My Income Tax?

If you itemize, premiums, copayments and certain other expenses may be deductible.

John Rossheim April 8, 2021

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If you itemize deductions on your income taxes, Medicare costs, such as premiums and copayments, may be deductible.

Your unreimbursed medical and dental expenses, including premiums, deductibles, copayments and other Medicare expenses, may be deductible to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D generally are deductible; Part A premiums are deductible under restricted circumstances.

Other health care expenses may be deductible

Medicare recipients may incur a variety of medical expenses that their insurance does not cover, from long-term care to lodging during a trip to receive medical care. Some of these expenses may be tax deductible, within limits.

There are limits on the deductibility of long-term care insurance premiums. For tax year 2020, the maximum tax deduction for long-term care premiums for people ages 61 to 70 is $4,350 per person; for age 71 and up, the limit is $5,430.

A Medicare Medical Savings Account can save on taxes

You can use a Medicare Medical Savings Account only if you have a high-deductible Medicare Advantage plan, which most people don’t. The money you deposit into an MSA (and any interest you get) isn't taxed if you spend it on qualified medical expenses.

Even if you do have such a plan, a Medicare MSA makes sense only if you’re very healthy and you're able to pay the full deductible and any other out-of-pocket costs if a surprise medical expense comes along.

Consider seeking professional tax advice

As with much of tax law, deductions for Medicare and other health care expenses are complicated. IRS Publication 502 offers details on medical expense deductions, but it’s a lot to digest.

You also need to determine whether itemizing deductibles is your best overall tax strategy. So it’s best to consult with a tax professional before claiming any deductions.

About the author: John Rossheim is an editor and writer specializing in health care and workforce trends. His work has appeared in The Washington Post and on MSN, Monster and dozens of other websites. Read more

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/medicare/can-i-deduct-medicare-costs-on-my-income-tax