NiveshLedger
Tax Planning

Section 80D: The Health Insurance Deduction Most People Underclaim

Updated 20 August 2026

Section 80D lets you deduct health insurance premiums under the old tax regime, but the limits are structured in a way that many people don't fully use.

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You can claim up to ₹25,000 for premiums paid for yourself, your spouse, and dependent children. Separately — and this is the part people miss — you can claim up to ₹25,000 more for premiums paid for your parents, or up to ₹50,000 if either parent is a senior citizen (60 or above). These two limits stack, so a family paying for both their own policy and a senior citizen parent's policy could claim up to ₹75,000 in total, not just ₹25,000.

Preventive health check-ups are also eligible within these limits, up to ₹5,000 combined across the family, even if you don't have a claimable premium that year.

If you're paying premiums for your parents' health insurance but filing your taxes without claiming this separately, you're likely leaving a meaningful deduction unused — it's worth checking your policy documents and premium receipts specifically for this before filing.