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IRS Medical Deduction?

15 years ago

Anyone know how much your medical expenses have to be to qualify for a tax deduction? What percentage of what income? And, what qualifies as 'medical' cost -- would that include insurance premiums or just out of pocket? (Asks the lady with the $7K hip surgeon's bill.)

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Comments (9)

duluthinbloomz4
15 years ago
Only medical expenses that exceed the 7.5% threshhold of your adjusted gross income are deductible.

IRS publiation 502 explains when and how insurance premiums can be deducted - that too hinges on exceeding the 7.5% AGI. Also lists those things that are considered to be part of one's medical expenses.
chisue
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, duluthinbloomz4. Looks like we will have some paperwork to do, but also a deduction. I didn't realize you could deduct dental expenses, prescribed medicines, and insurance premiums.
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hendricus
15 years ago
Don't forget the mileage going to all the appointments, checkups, etc.
mariend
15 years ago
Long term insurance premiums also. Glasses, and even some over the counter meds. Each year they change so your tax person should be aware of most, or check the IRS web site and don't forget the state. Some states are different than federal.
Even the medical on your car insurance is deductable.
jlhug
15 years ago
Sorry, medical insurance that is part of your automobile insurance isn't deductible as a medical expense.

See page 10 of Pub 502 linked below.

There is a pretty comprehensive list of what can be deducted started on page 5 of the pub.

Here is a link that might be useful: IRS Pub 502 Medical and Dental expenses
hendricus
15 years ago
Sorry, medical insurance that is part of your automobile insurance isn't deductible as a medical expense.
---------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't find a reference for this, do you have a page number?
jlhug
15 years ago
IRS Pub 502

Page 10

First colunm

Fifth Bullet

I referenced the page number in my first post but failed to reference the column and bullet. sorry

Here is a link that might be useful: IRS Pub 502 Medical and Dental expenses
hendricus
15 years ago
Thank you. I used to deduct it all the time when we itemized but that was a few years ago.
jlhug
15 years ago
You are welcome, hendricus. I spent many years teaching tax classes. At some point in almost every class, each student would get a look of horror when he realized that he had been doing something wrong for many years on his tax returns.

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