Tax Breaks for Medical Expenses
Sarah B
Depending on your situation, you may be able to claim certain medical expenses as deductions on your tax return. However, you must itemize deductions, and having enough expenses to qualify can be challenging. Here are five tips to keep in mind:
1. Consider “bunching” expenses. You can only deduct unreimbursed medical costs that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). If your 2025 itemized deductions will be higher than your standard deduction, consider moving or “bunching” nonurgent medical procedures and other controllable expenses into the same year. This strategy may help you surpass the 7.5% threshold and maximize your deduction.
2. Include insurance premiums. Premiums can add up to thousands of dollars annually, even if you pay only part of the cost yourself. (But first check that they aren’t already coming out of your paycheck pretax.) Long-term care insurance premiums also qualify, subject to age-based limits.
3. Claim travel costs for medical care. For 2025, you can deduct travel expenses for medical treatment, including taxi fares, public transit, or 21 cents per mile (plus tolls and parking) if driving. Be sure to carefully document your mileage.
4. Time certain medical purchases strategically. Qualifying expenses that you may be able to time include eyeglasses, hearing aids, specific dental work, and prescription drugs (including insulin). However, over-the-counter items, such as aspirin and vitamins and federally illegal treatments (for example, medical marijuana) aren’t deductible, even if allowed by state law.
5. Don’t overlook smoking-cessation and weight-loss programs. You can deduct costs for smoking-cessation programs and prescribed medications to reduce nicotine withdrawal, but not over-the-counter gum or patches. Weight-loss programs qualify if prescribed to treat a physician-diagnosed disease. Deductible costs include program fees and meeting charges, but not the cost of diet food.
If you still have questions, see IRS Publication 502 for complete details, or contact the office for personalized guidance.