Have Medicare and Blue Cross/ Blue Shield through former employer

[Marcy47]

UPDATE EDIT - This was my former employer. I am now retired so there is no paycheck involved. It is after tax money. It is not deducted from my pension . My pension is from the New York State Teachers Retirement System and I write a personal check to my former employer for family coverage for my spouse and myself. This acts as my Part B coverage . (and drug coverage.)   

  I have Medicare as my primary and then Blue Cross/Blue Shield which is through my former employer. I do pay a premium for family coverage. It is acceptable coverage for Part B and prescription plan. Can I enter this under Plan B or is that only for funds sent to the government? Entered under "Other Insurance Premiums", it doesn't seem to do anything for my bottom line. 

[PattiF]

Yes, you can enter that under Part B. Medicare Part B helps cover medical services like doctors' services, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn't cover. Part B is optional. Part B helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary.

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

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@PattiF wrote:

Yes, you can enter that under Part B. Medicare Part B helps cover medical services like doctors' services, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn't cover. Part B is optional. Part B helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary.

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Be aware that you can only deduct insurance premiums you pay out of pocket after taxes.  The premiums for employer-provided insurance are almost always deducted from your paycheck before taxes; you can't take a deduction for something that was already tax-free.  (Or if you are retired, your premiums may be deducted before taxes from your pension.  Either way, you can only deduct them if you pay the premiums with money that you paid income tax on.)

Medical expenses are itemized deductions subject to the 7.5% rule and you must itemize your deductions to see any tax benefit.  Adding medical expenses will not always change your tax bill, depending on your overall income and deductions. 

[Marcy47]

This was my former employer. I am now retired so there is no paycheck involved. It is after tax money. It is not deducted from my pension . My pension is from the New York State Teachers Retirement System and I write a personal check to my former employer for family coverage for my spouse and myself. This acts as my Part B coverage . (and drug coverage.) 

[Opus 17]

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@Marcy47 wrote:

This was my former employer. I am now retired so there is no paycheck involved. It is after tax money. It is not deducted from my pension . My pension is from the New York State Teachers Retirement System and I write a personal check to my former employer for family coverage for my spouse and myself. This acts as my Part B coverage . (and drug coverage.) 

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Premiums that you pay out of pocket after tax are deductible medical expenses, whether you are paying the government or a private insurance company, as long as they are after tax.

As mentioned, listing your expenses may or may not result in an actual reduction of your tax bill, depending on all your circumstances.  There is an article here.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/health-care/can-i-claim-medical-expenses-on-my-taxes/L1htkVqq9