Smoking-cessation programs - If you pay to participate in a smoking-cessation program or for prescribed drugs designed to alleviate nicotine withdrawal, you can deduct those costs.Also, you can’t deduct costs for operations or treatments that are illegal under federal law - like marijuana - even if it’s legal in the state where you live. Prescription drugs qualify, but non-prescription drugs like aspirin don’t. Most cosmetic expenses don’t qualify, but certain medically necessary cosmetic surgery is deductible. Eyeglasses, hearing aids, dental work, prescription drugs - Deductible medical expenses include the cost of glasses, hearing aids, dental work, and other ongoing medical needs.And if you’re chronically ill, certain long-term care services also qualify as deductible medical expenses. Also, you can deduct costs associated with medical care from a psychologist. But you can’t deduct having to pay for a fitness counselor to help you get in shape. So, for example, the cost of physical therapy after knee surgery would qualify. Those costs just can’t be for general health.

Therapists, nurses, and more - The costs for services that providers other than physicians offer can qualify as a medical expense.This includes the cost of using your car, public transportation, or using a taxi or ride-share service. Transportation - The cost of getting to and from medical treatment is a medical expense.If you buy health insurance through the federal insurance marketplace or your state marketplace, any premiums you pay out of pocket are tax-deductible. But they are subject to specific dollar limits based on age. Long-term care insurance premiums are also medical expenses. You can’t, however, deduct premiums that come out of your paycheck pretax. Health insurance premiums - There are a couple of ways you might be able to deduct your health insurance premiums: If you’re self-employed or buy your insurance through a federal or state marketplace.You itemize, which means that your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction.Ī lot of expenses - beyond just doctor and hospital bills - count as qualifying medical costs.They are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, and.If you have medical bills and expenses, you might wonder if you can deduct any of them from your annual taxes.īelow is a quick explainer about when you can deduct medical expenses and which types are qualifying medical costs.

Medical expense deduction 2020