What Is a Federally Tax-Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Policy?
You may be asked to choose between a “tax-qualified” long-term care insurance policy and one that is “non tax-qualified.” There are important differences between the two types of policies. These differences were created by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). A federally tax-qualified long-term care insurance policy, or a qualified policy, offers certain federal income tax advantages. If you have a qualified long-term care policy, and you itemize your deductions, you may be able to deduct part or all of the premium you pay for the policy. You may be able to add the premium to your other deductible medical expenses. You may then be able to deduct the amount that is more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income on your federal income tax return. The amount depends on your age, as shown in the table. Check with your personal tax advisor to find out how much you can deduct.