Direct payment to insurer permitted

Paragraph (1) shall apply to a distribution without regard to whether payment of the premiums is made directly to the provider of the accident or health plan or qualified long-term care insurance contract by deduction from a distribution from the eligible retirement plan, or is made to the employee.

In the case of a payment made to the employee as described in clause (i), the employee shall include with the return of tax for the taxable year in which the distribution is made an attestation that the distribution does not exceed the amount paid by the employee for qualified health insurance premiums for such taxable year.