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COBRA - pay with retirement money pre-tax?
Hello,
Is there a way for me to pay for my COBRA premiums with pre-tax retirement money? Without taking as current year income, without triggering the 10% early withdrawal penalty, and not taking a 401(k) hardship withdrawal?
I paid for my premiums at my prior employer using pre-tax money and wanted to know if there was a way to do so now that I'm unemployed (without putting on Schedule A, Medical Expenses, under 7.5%/10% AGI, as I will probably not itemize in 2020).
Situation:
* <59.5 years old.
* Unemployed and have already received 12+ weeks of unemployment benefits.
* I have some 401(k) accounts. I don't have a Traditional IRA, but could roll 401(k) money into one, if needed.
* I have an old HSA with a zero balance. I am not eligible to contribute to it for 2019 and 2020.
* Paid first self-paid COBRA payment in Dec19. Prior COBRA payments were covered as a part of severance. I'm still paying for COBRA out of pocket in tax year 2020.
* I don't want to take a hardship withdrawal from a 401(k) and I don't know if my situation would qualify for it.
Thanks in advance for your kind help.