Claim ACA Healthcare Premium Deduction in the Year Paid or the Year Shown on 1095-A

[brad92103]

I was under impression that Healthcare Premiums deducted as a healthcare expense should be claimed in the year actually paid, not necessarily the year and month of coverage.  The problem is I paid my ACA premium for JAN 2019 in DEC 2018.

It is listed however on 1095-A for JAN 2019.  TurboTax (Premier) takes the total of healthcare premiums from form 1095-A and carries them to Medical Wks Line 2 b "From Form(s) 1095-A - net of adjustments".  I do not see any easy way to fix this automatic calculation by TurboTax to accurately reflect the healthcare premium deduction in the year paid (cash basis).

The amounts paid in DEC for the following year renewal are usually a new premium rate.

I need some guidance on this. It didn't really make a difference in my bottom line for 2019.

[Anonymous]

the ACA premium payments - an exception to the rule that for a cash basis taxpayer the deduction is in the year paid.  for ACA premiums you get what the 1095A shows even though the DEC 19 payment would likely be paid in 2020.  since the premium and tax credit are determined on a calendar year basis there would be needless complications if the cash basis rule was followed.