Where to enter Medicare Premiums for those who are not self employed and are not taking social security benefits?

[fkhalilz]

My wife enrolled in Medicare in October of 2024 at the age of 65. My wife and I are retired but we do not draw any social security benefits yet. Therefore, we did not receive the SSA-1099 form. We are not self employed either. We are filing as "Married Filing Jointly". We also have enough medical and other expenses that allows us to itemize our deductions.

Where do we report the out of pocket medicare premiums that my wife paid in 2024? Would that be included on Line 2.a of Schedule A? If so, do I simply include the medicare premium paid in response to "How much did you spend on insurance premiums?" under "Deductions and Credit" --> "Medical Expenses" of TurboTax?

Thank you!

[VolvoGirl]

Yes enter it as health insurance on Schedule A.   But you might not have enough deductions to itemize on Schedule A.

You can only deduct the amount of unreimbursed Medical Expenses you actually paid over 7.5% of your AGI.  And then all your itemized deductions have to be more than the standard deduction to get any benefit (so you would only be getting the benefit of the amount that puts you over the standard deduction).  And since the Standard Deduction is increased more people will not need to Itemize.  Your Standard Deduction is $32,300.

For 2024 the standard deduction amounts are:

Single 14,600+1,950 for 65 and over or blind

HOH 21,900 + 1,950 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 29,200 +  1,550 for each 65 and over or blind (both 32,300)

Married filing Separate 14,600 + 1,550 for 65 and over or blind

[fkhalilz]

Thank you VolvoGirl!

As mentioned in my original question, we have enough deductions to qualify for itemized deductions.

The 2nd part of my question was this:

Do I simply include the medicare premium paid in response to "How much did you spend on insurance premiums?" under "Deductions and Credit" --> "Medical Expenses" of TurboTax?

Could someone please answer this question as well?

Thank you!

[JohnB5677 · Accepted solution]

You have it correct.  You will post the premiums under How much did you spend on insurance premiums? > Medical insurance premiums.

To get to this area:

1. Start at Deductions & Credits
2. Scroll to Medical > Medical Expenses [Edit]
3. Did you spend more than $X,XXX on medical expenses in 2024? Yes
4. Continue through the interview
5. How much did you spend on insurance premiums?
6. Post the value under Medical insurance premiums
7. Continue through the interview.

[fkhalilz]

Thank you @JohnB5677 !