Section 80D: Claiming Medical Expenses Under Tax Deductions For Health Insurance

• August 12, 2023
• CA Chandan Agarwal's Office

Section 80D: Claiming Medical Expenses Under Tax Deductions For Health Insurance

Healthcare expenses can put a significant dent in your finances, especially during times of medical emergencies or routine medical treatments. To ease the financial burden and encourage individuals to invest in health insurance, the Indian Income Tax Act offers tax deductions under Section 80D. This section allows taxpayers to claim deductions on premiums paid for health insurance policies for themselves and their family members.

Understanding Section 80D

Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, 1961, provides tax deductions to individuals for the premiums paid towards mediclaim policy. These deductions are available to both salaried and self-employed individuals and are designed to promote health insurance coverage and encourage responsible financial planning for medical contingencies.

Key points to remember

Here are some key points to remember claiming medical expenses under tax deductions:

Eligible taxpayers

Any individual, including Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), is eligible to claim deductions under Section 80D.

Eligible policies

The tax deduction is applicable for health insurance policies taken for self, spouse, dependent children and parents. It also includes premiums paid for health insurance of HUF members.

Maximum deduction limit

The maximum deduction limit under Section 80D varies based on the age of the insured and the number of family members covered.

Additional deduction for senior citizens

Taxpayers who have senior citizen parent’s (age 60 years or above) can claim an additional deduction on the premium paid for their parents health insurance.

Payment mode

The premium can be paid in any mode, such as cash, cheque or online transactions. However, cash payments exceeding ₹10,000 in a financial year will not be eligible for deductions.

Conclusion

By investing in health insurance policies and claiming tax deductions under this section, taxpayers not only protect themselves financially during medical emergencies but also reduce their tax liabilities. Section 80D of the Income Tax Act provides valuable tax deductions on critical illness insurance premiums, incentivizing individuals to secure comprehensive health coverage for themselves and their families. It is crucial to carefully evaluate the premium payments, age of insured individuals and coverage details to maximize the benefits of this deduction. Always keep track of the medical expenses and premiums paid through the health insurance calculator, as these documents will be required while filing your income tax returns.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/section-80d-claiming-medical-expenses-under-tax-deductions-for-health-insurance