Tax Savings for Healthcare Costs

Everyone seems to be conscious about the very high cost healthcare. The excellent news is the fact that some tax savings will help you reduce taxes to balance out these high costs. Here are several useful tax savings recommendations.

Take advantage of tax deductions for medical expenses
The federal government allows tax payers to write off any health-related expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI). That could appear like a lot, however the EBRI forecasts that a 65-year-old couple who retire without employer-sponsored health insurance coverage would require $216,000 to cover out-of-pocket medical costs if they live to age 80.2 That's $14,400 per couple per year. In the event you and your partner possess an AGI of $75,000 annually in retirement, 7.5 % of the AGI is $5,625. You'd still be able to deduct $8,775.

Most people don't understand this however expenses for your long-term-care insurance qualify like a health-related cost. As a result, proper tax planning will have you considered these expenses in the above allowable breaks for the medical expenses. The permitted breaks for 2012 are as follows:

2012 Long Term Care Insurance Federal Tax Deductible Restrictions

Taxpayer's Age At End of Tax Year - Deductible Limit
40 or less	$ 350
More than 40 but not more than 50	$ 660
More than 50 but not more than 60	$1,310
More than 60 but not more than 70	$3,500
More than 70	$4,370

Based on the above table, a married couple both age sixty five can purchase long-term care insurance and deduct up to $7000 in their premium costs like a medical expense. This kind of tax savings takes advantage of the federal government subsidizing your long-term-care expenses as if you're in the 30% tax bracket, it is as if the government is paying 30% of your costs.

Utilize a high Deductible Health Savings Account

Until you sign up for Medicare you are able to have a high-deductible health savings account (HSA). This kind of account provides substantial tax savings possibilities.

In case your employer offers a high-deductible medical insurance policy, you might be able to generate pretax contributions, as if you would with a flexible-spending account. If you open the HSA on your own, your contributions will be deductible once you file your taxes, even if you don't itemize.

The tax deductible contribution restrictions for 2012 are $3100 for an and the restriction for families increased is $6,250. The catch-up provision (extra contribution) for those age 55+ stays at $1000. If you don't make use of money for qualified healthcare costs, you are able to treat the unused funds as you would an Individual retirement account for retirement savings.

There you've 2 excellent tax savings ideas to assist subsidize your healthcare expenses.