Do Medicare premiums I paid myself (not deducted from Social Security benefits) count as medical insurance premiums?

[Beavis-1960]

I began Medicare coverage 4 months prior to receiving Social Security payments and was billed directly by Medicare for my first 4 months of benefits.

[xmasbaby0]

Health insurance premiums that you paid out of pocket can be entered as a medical expense.

If you receive Social Security benefits, your Medicare is deducted from your SS.   When you enter the SSA1099 for your Social Security, the amount paid for Medicare flows automatically to the medical expense section of the software, so do not enter it again.

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.)  expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2025—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding.  Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expenses

2025 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $15,750  (65 or older/legally blind +1600)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $31,500  (65 or older/legally blind + $1600)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $23,625 (65 or older/legally blind + $2000)

[Vanessa A]

Yes.  Medicare Premiums not deducted from your social security benefits are still counted as medical insurance premiums.  If you are itemizing your return, you can add the additional payments for Medicare before you received social security as health insurance expenses.