![\"\"](\"https:\/\/d3toagd7ypryjs.cloudfront.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Over-65.png\")
<\/strong><\/h1>\nCan I deduct my medical expenses?<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\nYour medical expense deductions will need to add up to 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI)<\/span>. This changed from 10% in 2017. Remember, this includes expenses for your spouse and your dependents!<\/p>\n
\nWhat counts as a medical expense?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Doctors.png\")
\u00a0Doctors and specialists<\/strong>
\nPayments or fees for visits to primary care doctors<\/a> and specialists.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/check.png\")
\u00a0Doctors, dentists, and eye doctors
\n\u00a0Surgeons
\n\u00a0Acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists
\n\u00a0Podiatrists
\n\u00a0Psychiatrists and psychologists<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Transportation.png\")
\u00a0 Transportation<\/strong>
\nExpenses to get to and from a medical service or appointment. You can deduct 17 cents per mile for gas!<\/p>\n\u00a0Taxi, bus, train, and other public transportation
\n\u00a0Ambulance
\n\u00a0Personal car
\n\u00a0Parking and tolls<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Capital-expenses.png\")
\u00a0 Capital expenses<\/strong>
\nEquipment or improvements to your home, if their main purpose is to provide medical assistance for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Installing railing or support bars in the bathroom
\n\u00a0Modifying fire alarms and smoke detectors
\n\u00a0Modifying stairways
\n\u00a0Adding handrails or grab bars anywhere
\n\u00a0Lead-based paint removal<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/glasses-icon.png\")
\u00a0 Equipment, supplies, and devices
\n<\/strong>Equipment, supplies, or devices related to medical care for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Reading or prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses
\n\u00a0Hearing aids
\n\u00a0<\/strong>False teeth
\n\u00a0Crutches and wheelchairs
\n\u00a0Breast pumps
\n\u00a0Blood sugar test kit<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Procedures.png\")
\u00a0 Procedures
\n<\/strong>Procedures, if performed to prevent disease or if they assist with having children.<\/p>\n\u00a0Dental procedures to prevent dental disease (e.g., sealants, fluoride treatments, X-rays, braces, extraction)
\n\u00a0Vasectomy
\n\u00a0Cataract Surgery
\n\u00a0Fertility enhancements, if you have trouble having children<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/recovery.png\")
\u00a0 Recovery programs
\n<\/strong>Recovery programs for alcohol or drug addiction, smoking, or weight loss for specific diseases.<\/p>\n\u00a0Acupuncture (if used for recovery)
\n\u00a0Inpatient treatment for alcohol or drug addiction
\n\u00a0Participation in smoking cessation program
\n\u00a0Weight-loss programs for specific diseases (as diagnosed by a physician), including obesity<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/my.castlighthealth.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Medicines.png\")
\u00a0 Medicines
\n<\/strong>Medications that require a prescription.<\/p>\n\u00a0Medicines that require a prescription, like insulin or birth control pills<\/p>\n
What can't I deduct?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nKeep in mind that you cannot deduct certain items. Over-the-counter drugs (like Advil or Tylenol for a cold) and cosmetic surgeries do not make the list.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, you also cannot deduct medical expenses \"that have been paid using pre-tax money from an FSA or HSA<\/a>.\" That would be a double tax benefit, and it is not allowed by the IRS.<\/p>\nPlease note<\/strong>: This is not a complete list of approved medical expense deductions. Click here<\/a> for the IRS's full list.<\/p>\n
\n
What counts as a medical expense?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\u00a0Doctors and specialists<\/strong>
\nPayments or fees for visits to primary care doctors<\/a> and specialists.<\/p>\n\u00a0Doctors, dentists, and eye doctors
\n\u00a0Surgeons
\n\u00a0Acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists
\n\u00a0Podiatrists
\n\u00a0Psychiatrists and psychologists<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Transportation<\/strong>
\nExpenses to get to and from a medical service or appointment. You can deduct 17 cents per mile for gas!<\/p>\n\u00a0Taxi, bus, train, and other public transportation
\n\u00a0Ambulance
\n\u00a0Personal car
\n\u00a0Parking and tolls<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Capital expenses<\/strong>
\nEquipment or improvements to your home, if their main purpose is to provide medical assistance for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Installing railing or support bars in the bathroom
\n\u00a0Modifying fire alarms and smoke detectors
\n\u00a0Modifying stairways
\n\u00a0Adding handrails or grab bars anywhere
\n\u00a0Lead-based paint removal<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Equipment, supplies, and devices
\n<\/strong>Equipment, supplies, or devices related to medical care for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Reading or prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses
\n\u00a0Hearing aids
\n\u00a0<\/strong>False teeth
\n\u00a0Crutches and wheelchairs
\n\u00a0Breast pumps
\n\u00a0Blood sugar test kit<\/p>\n\u00a0 Procedures
\n<\/strong>Procedures, if performed to prevent disease or if they assist with having children.<\/p>\n\u00a0Dental procedures to prevent dental disease (e.g., sealants, fluoride treatments, X-rays, braces, extraction)
\n\u00a0Vasectomy
\n\u00a0Cataract Surgery
\n\u00a0Fertility enhancements, if you have trouble having children<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Recovery programs
\n<\/strong>Recovery programs for alcohol or drug addiction, smoking, or weight loss for specific diseases.<\/p>\n\u00a0Acupuncture (if used for recovery)
\n\u00a0Inpatient treatment for alcohol or drug addiction
\n\u00a0Participation in smoking cessation program
\n\u00a0Weight-loss programs for specific diseases (as diagnosed by a physician), including obesity<\/p>\n
\u00a0 Medicines
\n<\/strong>Medications that require a prescription.<\/p>\n\u00a0Medicines that require a prescription, like insulin or birth control pills<\/p>\n
What can't I deduct?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nKeep in mind that you cannot deduct certain items. Over-the-counter drugs (like Advil or Tylenol for a cold) and cosmetic surgeries do not make the list.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, you also cannot deduct medical expenses \"that have been paid using pre-tax money from an FSA or HSA<\/a>.\" That would be a double tax benefit, and it is not allowed by the IRS.<\/p>\nPlease note<\/strong>: This is not a complete list of approved medical expense deductions. Click here<\/a> for the IRS's full list.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Doctors and specialists<\/strong>\nPayments or fees for visits to primary care doctors<\/a> and specialists.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Doctors, dentists, and eye doctors
\n\u00a0Surgeons
\n\u00a0Acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and occupational therapists
\n\u00a0Podiatrists
\n\u00a0Psychiatrists and psychologists<\/p>\n
Keep in mind that you cannot deduct certain items. Over-the-counter drugs (like Advil or Tylenol for a cold) and cosmetic surgeries do not make the list.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, you also cannot deduct medical expenses \"that have been paid using pre-tax money from an FSA or HSA<\/a>.\" That would be a double tax benefit, and it is not allowed by the IRS.<\/p>\n Please note<\/strong>: This is not a complete list of approved medical expense deductions. Click here<\/a> for the IRS's full list.<\/p>\n\u00a0 Transportation<\/strong>
\nExpenses to get to and from a medical service or appointment. You can deduct 17 cents per mile for gas!<\/p>\n\u00a0Taxi, bus, train, and other public transportation
\n\u00a0Ambulance
\n\u00a0Personal car
\n\u00a0Parking and tolls<\/p>\n\u00a0 Capital expenses<\/strong>
\nEquipment or improvements to your home, if their main purpose is to provide medical assistance for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Installing railing or support bars in the bathroom
\n\u00a0Modifying fire alarms and smoke detectors
\n\u00a0Modifying stairways
\n\u00a0Adding handrails or grab bars anywhere
\n\u00a0Lead-based paint removal<\/p>\n\u00a0 Equipment, supplies, and devices
\n<\/strong>Equipment, supplies, or devices related to medical care for you, your spouse, or your dependent.<\/p>\n\u00a0Reading or prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses
\n\u00a0Hearing aids
\n\u00a0<\/strong>False teeth
\n\u00a0Crutches and wheelchairs
\n\u00a0Breast pumps
\n\u00a0Blood sugar test kit<\/p>\n\u00a0 Procedures
\n<\/strong>Procedures, if performed to prevent disease or if they assist with having children.<\/p>\n\u00a0Dental procedures to prevent dental disease (e.g., sealants, fluoride treatments, X-rays, braces, extraction)
\n\u00a0Vasectomy
\n\u00a0Cataract Surgery
\n\u00a0Fertility enhancements, if you have trouble having children<\/p>\n\u00a0 Recovery programs
\n<\/strong>Recovery programs for alcohol or drug addiction, smoking, or weight loss for specific diseases.<\/p>\n\u00a0Acupuncture (if used for recovery)
\n\u00a0Inpatient treatment for alcohol or drug addiction
\n\u00a0Participation in smoking cessation program
\n\u00a0Weight-loss programs for specific diseases (as diagnosed by a physician), including obesity<\/p>\n\u00a0 Medicines
\n<\/strong>Medications that require a prescription.<\/p>\n\u00a0Medicines that require a prescription, like insulin or birth control pills<\/p>\nWhat can't I deduct?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n