Is Dental Insurance Tax Deductible?

Routine dental work may cost hundreds of dollars per year without insurance. If you need more complex procedures, they could cost thousands of dollars.¹ Dental insurance can be a valuable asset to help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for oral care.

Dental plans typically have a dental insurance deductible and require you to pay premiums to keep the policy active. In some cases, premiums are tax deductible. Here, we explore how dental insurance works, when it may be tax deductible, and how to calculate your deduction if you qualify.

3 Min Read

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Dental insurance premiums are tax deductible if they're used for dental procedures that help prevent or alleviate dental disease.²
To claim a tax deduction on dental insurance premiums, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return rather than taking the standard deduction.³
Aflac’s network dental insurance premiums may be tax deductible if you used your insurance for preventative care this year.

How dental insurance works

Dental insurance helps a policyholder pay for many dental expenses. In exchange, the policyholder pays monthly premiums to maintain their coverage.

On average, a dental insurance policy with comprehensive coverage costs $52 a month. Many dental plans cover 100% of the costs of routine preventative care, and part of basic services and major procedures.⁴ Aflac offers network dental insurance with reasonable rates and policies to help cover a wide range of treatments.

Are dental insurance premiums tax deductible?

Dental insurance premiums may be tax-deductible if they are for procedures that help prevent or alleviate dental disease.² Cosmetic procedures are typically not covered by insurance policies, so you may not deduct these costs from your taxable income. The ability to deduct premiums may also depend on the state you reside in, and whether you pay premiums with pre-tax or post-tax dollars.³

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When is dental insurance tax deductible?

You may be able to deduct your dental insurance premiums if you pay them with post-tax dollars and you itemize your deductions on your taxes instead of taking the standard deduction.² You may also be able to deduct the costs of some dental procedures, such as the following:³

Dental bridges
Root canals
Dentures
Extractions
Invisalign
Oral surgery

If you’re self-employed, it may be possible to deduct all of your dental insurance premiums if no coverage is available through your or your partner’s employers. If you qualify and wish to deduct dental expenses in addition to premiums, you will need the following documentation:

Dental expense receipts
A list of dental treatments and procedures received
A list of providers paid for those treatments and procedures
Records of dental insurance premiums
Your AGI on your tax return

Get a dental insurance quote

You may deduct dental insurance premiums and other dental costs in certain situations. This can help you save more and get the care you need. Even if you can’t deduct your premiums, dental insurance may be worth it to help you reduce out-of-pockets for both preventative care and major procedures. Aflac offers network dental insurance to help you save on dental care. Get a dental insurance quote today from Aflac or speak with an agent to learn more about our dental insurance coverage.

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