Questions & Answers

Medical Expenses

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Your deductible medical expenses include unreimbursed medical expenses that are deductible on Schedule A. You can include medical expenses and copayments for you, your spouse, and your dependents. You can only deduct the part of your expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Enter the full amount of your medical expenses, and we'll calculate if the medical expenses are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

The definition of what constitutes a medical expense is very broad and includes expenses to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease. However, cosmetic surgery is not deductible unless it is related to disfigurement from a congenital abnormality, accidental injury, or a disfiguring disease. Other examples of nondeductible medical expenses are nonprescription drugs, doctor prescribed travel for "rest", and expenses for the improvement of your general health such as a weight-loss program or health club fees (the weight-loss program is deductible if it is to treat a specific disease).

Examples of deductible medical expenses include:

• Abortions
• Acupuncture
• Alcoholism treatment
• Ambulance costs
• Birth control pills
• Child birth classes
• Chiropractors
• Contact lenses
• Crutches
• Dentist
• Dentures
• Doctor fees
• Drug addiction treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Dyslexia reading programs and tutors
• Eye examination and glasses
• Guide dogs
• Health insurance
• Hearing aids
• Hospital bills
• Insulin
• Laboratory fees
• Long-term care insurance
• Nursing home if for medical treatment
• Optometrist
• Osteopath
• Physical therapy
• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Travel to medical clinics
• Vasectomy
• Wheelchair

This list does not contain every medical deduction available. For more information regarding deductible medical expenses, go to the IRS website .