Medical deductions? Can you write off...?

Question

Doctor visit co-pays?

Prescription co-pays?

Pre-taxed medical deductions? (I assume not)

Before I add all my receipts up I want to be clear on these things.

Answer 1

You can deduct non-reimbursed expenses that are paid with tax-paid dollars. Co-pays are deductible as long as they are paid with tax-paid dollars.

Anything paid for with pre-tax dollars is not deductible as you have already had a deduction for those dollars.

Since medical deductions are limited to those that exceed 7.5% of your AGI, it is always best to use pre-tax dollars to pay them since there is no AGI limitation on pre-tax dollars from a MSA or other flexible spending plan. Additionally, when you use pre-tax dollars to pay those costs, you don't even have to itemize to get the tax benefit!

Answer 2

Co-payments and out-of-pocket medical expenses are deductible. Obviously the pre-tax deductions are not deductible. But in order for these expenses to be deductible, you must first be able to itemize your deductions on Schedule A. Next, your medical expenses would have to exceed 7.5% of your AGI. This is not a common deduction for most people. So check your AGI first.

Answer 3

You can deduct your copays, but not your pre-tax medical deductions. Don't forget vision and dental expenses as well. Mileage for medical purposes is also deductible at 18 cents a mile.

Your medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your income can be deducted.

Answer 4

You are correct, you can't deduct anything reimbursed or paid with pre-tax dollars, but otherwise can deduct the copays.

You can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.

Answer 5

Medical expenses you can deduct are the costs of diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, and the costs for treatments affecting any part or function of the body. They include the costs of equipment, supplies, and diagnostic devices needed for these purposes. They also include dental expenses.

Medical care expenses must be primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. They do not include expenses that are merely beneficial to general health, such as vitamins or a vacation.

Medical expenses include the premiums you pay for insurance that covers the expenses of medical care, and the amounts you pay for transportation to get medical care. Medical expenses also include amounts paid for qualified long-term care services and limited amounts paid for any qualified long-term care insurance contract.

Answer 6

You can typically only deduct out of pocket medical expenses that exceed 2% of your gross income. Anything you already expensed through your flex spending can't be counted again.

But yes, once you get past all that, your copays would count.

Answer 7

go on www.gov and pull up a pub 17. it will tell you everything you can deduct.