| Reduce your tax bill by deducting medical and dental | | | | · Costs for smoking-cessation programs |
| expenses | | | | · Participation in weight loss programs when they are |
| Many taxpayers find it beneficial to itemize their | | | | related to a diagnosed disease, like hypertension or |
| deductions on their federal tax return. One of the | | | | obesity |
| many deductions you can take are payments you | | | | · Fees for laser eye surgery, crutches, wheelchairs, |
| made for medical and dental expenses. But a large | | | | and guide dogs for the deaf or blind |
| number of taxpayers miss some expenses they could | | | | · Transportation costs related to and necessary for |
| have claimed to lower their tax burden because they | | | | qualified medical expenses |
| don't know they can use it as a medical tax deduction. | | | | What Medical Expenses Are Not Deductible? |
| What Medical Expenses Can I Claim? | | | | When itemizing your medical expenses, be extremely |
| Generally, you can deduct expenses for medical or | | | | careful about what you deduct. Do not include any of |
| dental care you paid for yourself, your spouse and any | | | | the following expenses. |
| dependents. The most common expenses include: | | | | · Amounts paid for nicotine gum or patches that do |
| · Premiums paid for medical, dental or long-term care | | | | not require a prescription |
| insurance | | | | · Cost of purchasing diet food items or the cost of |
| · Insurance deductibles and co-payments | | | | health club dues |
| · Fees paid to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and | | | | · Funeral or burial expenses |
| mental health practitioners | | | | · Over-the-counter medicines |
| · Payments to hospitals, long-term care facilities and | | | | · Cosmetic surgeries |
| services, nursing services and lab fees | | | | · Premiums for life insurance, for policies providing for |
| · Cost of prescription drugs and insulin | | | | loss of wages because of illness or injury, or policies |
| · Price of prescription eyeglasses or contacts, hearing | | | | that pay you a guaranteed amount each week for a |
| aids and false teeth | | | | sickness (i.e. supplemental insurance) |
| Additionally, there are other expenses that many | | | | How Do I Claim Medical Expenses? |
| taxpayers don't realize can be deducted from their | | | | To deduct your qualified medical expenses, first add |
| taxes: | | | | up all the payments you made that were not |
| · Payments for acupuncture treatments | | | | reimbursed by any insurance policy. Be sure once you |
| · Inpatient expenses at an alcohol or drug addiction | | | | file your taxes, you keep these receipts and |
| treatment center | | | | statements as proof of your expenses. |