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The Daily Insight

What percentage of self-employed health insurance premiums can I deduct?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Mar 19, 2026

Self-employed people who qualify are allowed to deduct 100% of their health insurance premiums (including dental and long-term care coverage) for themselves, their spouses, and their dependents. It’s important to understand, however, that this is not a business deduction.

Are medical insurance premiums tax-deductible in 2020?

Are Medical Premiums Tax Deductible? For the 2020 and 2021 tax year, you’re allowed to deduct any qualified unreimbursed healthcare expenses you paid for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents—but only if they exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI).

Can you deduct health insurance premiums on your taxes?

Health insurance premiums are often eligible for the tax deduction. You can only deduct the premiums that you pay. Not what your employer spends for your coverage. You also can’t deduct health insurance premiums if your employer or the government pays all of your premiums. What other medical costs are tax-deductible?

Where to deduct health insurance premiums for self employed?

If You’re Self-Employed . Self-employed persons can take a deduction for health insurance premiums they pay for themselves and their dependents directly on line 16 of the 2020 Schedule 1. This is another above-the-line adjustment to income. You can then transfer the total of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to line 10a on your 2020 tax return.

Do you have to pay tax on private health insurance?

Where private health insurance is provided to employees, it is considered a ‘benefit in kind’. This means that in most cases private health insurance is not tax deductible, and employees need to pay tax on any insurance premiums as reported in the P11D. However, there are a number of specific circumstances where this is not the case.

What is the standard deduction for health insurance?

For the tax year 2020, the standard deduction is $12,400 for those filing an individual return and $24,800 for married couples filing jointly. For the tax year 2021, the standard deduction is $12,550 for those filing an individual return and $25,100 for married couples filing jointly. 4  5