# Did bush's tax credit for health insurance ever pass?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 24, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942 "2004-02-24T18:36:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942/1 "2004-02-24T18:36:00Z")

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[http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2000/05/01/gvsa0501.htm](http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2000/05/01/gvsa0501.htm)

Did this idea ever come to pass? I am college student and I want to buy some health insurance and i’m wondering if i can get any tax breaks or refunds from purchasing an individual plan.

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**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942/2 "2004-02-24T18:47:16Z")

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You can take a deduction on your tax return but only if the cost of your medical expenses is at least a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income. I think it’s 7.5%. If you don’t hit the percentage, you can’t take the deduction.

You can include more than just the cost of premiums to get to the 7.5%: mileage, co-pays, deductibles, etc. But it’s pretty hard to get to 7.5%. I believe IRS Publication 17 explains it all.

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**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942/3 "2004-02-24T18:49:05Z")

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Do you not have insurance already through your college?

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**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-bushs-tax-credit-for-health-insurance-ever-pass/230942/4 "2004-02-24T19:02:33Z")

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> [@missbunny](#):
>
> Do you not have insurance already through your college?

They offer it but im researching it to see if its a good deal. i can get a 1k deductible blue cross plan for $59/month, i think the school wants $72/month for their health coverage but i dont know if that plan if for grad & international or for undergrad.