You'll typically find your health insurance premium on your W-2 form, specifically in box 12, with code DD. This is a crucial piece of information, as it helps you understand how much you're paying for your health insurance benefits.
The amount listed in box 12, code DD, is usually a pre-tax deduction, meaning it's taken out of your paycheck before taxes are applied. This can be a nice perk, as it reduces your taxable income.
Your employer is required to report the cost of your health insurance premiums on your W-2, but they're not responsible for paying the premiums themselves. That's usually your responsibility, or you may have a combination of employer and employee contributions.
The IRS allows employers to deduct the cost of providing health insurance premiums as a business expense, which can be a significant tax benefit for your employer.
Consider reading: Premium Tax Credits for Health Insurance
Understanding Health Insurance Premium on W2
If you receive a W-2 form from your employer, it's likely because you're a part of their group health insurance plan.
The health insurance premium on your W-2 is usually reported as Box 12 with code DD, which stands for "life insurance." However, in some cases, it might be reported as Box 12 with code W, which is for "health insurance."
Group health insurance premiums are typically deducted from your paycheck before taxes.
New Jersey Health Insurance Programs
New Jersey residents can access financial help to lower their health insurance premiums through GetCoveredNJ. This program offers three types of financial assistance: advance premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and New Jersey Health Plan Savings.
Consumers may qualify for expanded financial help due to the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This means more people can receive additional subsidies and advance premium tax credits.
To continue receiving advance premium tax credits, consumers must reconcile them on their federal income tax return using Form 8962 each year, even if they don't normally file federal income taxes.
Discover more: Health Insurance Companies New Jersey
Financial Help for Plan Costs
You may qualify for financial help to lower the cost of your plan through GetCoveredNJ, which offers three types of assistance: advance premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and New Jersey Health Plan Savings.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 have expanded financial help for Get Covered New Jersey customers, making more people eligible for more assistance.
You can receive premium tax credits and a state subsidy to lower your monthly premium payments, and cost-sharing reductions can help lower your out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and co-pays for doctor visits.
Note that you must reconcile the advance premium tax credits you receive each year on your federal income tax return using Form 8962, even if you don't normally file federal income taxes.
The estimated cost of coverage on your invitation notice is not the final cost for your coverage, but rather an estimate based on your tax return information.
For another approach, see: Axa Private Medical Insurance
What Benefits Do GetCoveredNJ Plans Cover?
GetCoveredNJ plans cover a wide range of essential health benefits, including ambulatory care services, emergency services, hospitalization, and more.
All plans sold on GetCoveredNJ have met the high standards of GetCoveredNJ, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, and the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
Some routine and preventive care is required to be free to you, including certain vaccinations and child well visits.
Here are the essential health benefits covered by GetCoveredNJ plans:
- Ambulatory care (outpatient) services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services, including annual physicals and mammograms, and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services
And don't worry about pre-existing conditions - no insurance company can turn you down or charge you more because of it.
New Jersey Easy Enrollment Program
The New Jersey Easy Enrollment Program is a game-changer for residents who need health insurance. It's a free service that helps you find affordable health insurance options.
To enroll in the NJ-EZ Enroll program, you'll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your household. This will help the program match you with available health insurance plans.
On a similar theme: Do You Have to Have Renters Insurance for an Apartment
Tax Implications of Health Insurance Premium
Tax implications of health insurance premiums can be a bit confusing, but I'm here to break it down for you.
If you have employer-sponsored health insurance, the premiums are not tax-deductible because they're already being deducted from your paycheck on a pretax basis.
You can't deduct your employer-sponsored health insurance premiums on your return because they're already taking advantage of tax savings.
COBRA insurance premiums, on the other hand, are tax-deductible because you pay them yourself on an after-tax basis.
If you buy medical coverage through an insurance marketplace, your premiums are deductible as a medical expense.
Premiums for Medicare Part B, C or D, along with Medigap coverage, are tax-deductible.
To deduct health insurance premiums on your taxes, you need to itemize your deductions and pay your premiums directly.
You also need to make sure your medical expenses totaled more than 7.5% of your income for the year.
That's a pretty high bar, but if you meet it, you can deduct your health insurance premiums on your taxes.
It's worth noting that if you're eligible for a spouse's employer-based health insurance and decline that coverage, you can't deduct your personal insurance premiums on your return.
Broaden your view: Fehb and Medicare Part B
Estimating and Paying Health Insurance Premium
You may qualify for financial help to lower the cost of your health insurance premium. This can be a huge relief, especially if you're on a tight budget.
You can get financial help through GetCoveredNJ, which offers three types of assistance: advance premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and New Jersey Health Plan Savings, a state subsidy.
The federal government and the state of New Jersey are providing additional savings through subsidies and advance premium tax credits, making more people eligible for financial help.
You'll need to reconcile the advance premium tax credits you receive each year on your federal income tax return using Form 8962, even if you don't normally file federal income taxes.
This means you'll need to account for the credits you received during the year to continue receiving them.
Intriguing read: Vanguard Health Savings Accounts
Sources
- https://www.nj.gov/getcoverednj/findanswers/faqs/
- https://www.valuepenguin.com/health-insurance-tax-deductible
- https://www.basusa.com/blog/health-plan-coverage-reporting-on-form-w-2
- https://wm-cpa.com/accounting-insight/annual-reminder-for-s-corp-owners-include-health-insurance-premiums-paid-for-2-shareholder-employee-on-w-2/
- https://casetext.com/analysis/irs-clarifies-guidelines-for-w-2-reporting-of-health-coverage-costs
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