COBRA and SE Insurance

[Lion]

This may have been covered during all those Medicare and SE deduction discussions, but I can't find anything to point. Divorce, then COBRA, then self-employment. Can she deduct her COBRA premiums as SE insurance deduction on front of 1040? Or only as Schedule A? Thanx for helping my sleep-deprived brain.

[Bill Tubbs]

Se

This may have been covered during all those Medicare and SE deduction discussions, but I can't find anything to point. Divorce, then COBRA, then self-employment. Can she deduct her COBRA premiums as SE insurance deduction on front of 1040? Or only as Schedule A? Thanx for helping my sleep-deprived brain.

My understanding of COBRA is that the employer is not subsidizing the insurance premium, so I would take it as SE insurance.

Bill

[jainen]

when he gets his own plan

I disagree. The rule is not whether the taxpayer receives a direct subsidy, but whether he participates in an employer-subsidized plan. He can start taking the deduction when he gets his own plan.

[KJ Judd]

Agree with jainen

Insurance plan must be established by the taxpayer's business. So COBRA would not count.