What are qualifying medical and dental expenses?

Created by Shubha Bisht, Modified on Wed, 24 Jan at 3:28 PM by Shubha Bisht

If you are itemizing your deductions on your tax return, you may be able to deduct qualifying deductions for Medical and Dental expenses. The IRS guideline for this deduction states that you may only deduct the total amount of your medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income).

Per the IRS, listed below are examples of qualifying medical and dental expenses:

Out of pocket fees to doctors, psychiatrists, dentists, psychologists, surgeons, chiropractors, and nontraditional medical practitioners.
Out of pocket expenses to participate in a weight-loss program for disease(s) diagnosed by a physician, including obesity, but not payments typically for diet food items or the payment of health club dues.
Out of pocket expenses for false teeth, prescription glasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs and for a guide dog/other service animal to assist a hearing disabled or visually impaired person, or a person with other physical disabilities.
Payments for inpatient hospital care or residential nursing home care. If the availability of medical care is the principal reason for being in the nursing home, including the cost of meals and lodging charged by the hospital or nursing home. If the availability of medical care isn't the principal reason for residence in the nursing home, the deduction is limited to that part of the cost that's for medical care.
Payments for acupuncture treatments or inpatient treatments at a center for alcohol or drug addiction; or for participation in a smoking-cessation program and for drugs to alleviate nicotine withdrawal that require a prescription.
Out of pocket prescription expenses.
Out of pocket admission and travel expenses to a medical conference that are essential to necessary medical care relating to a chronic illness of you, your spouse or your dependent. No deductions are allowed for the costs of meals and lodging while attending the medical conference.
Out of pocket transportation expenses for medical care.
Out of pocket insurance premiums for policies that cover medical care or for a qualified long-term care insurance policy for qualified long-term care services. Keep in mind, only those you’ve paid out of pocket are deductible. No employer covered expenses.

Medical and dental expenses are not exclusively limited to the examples listed here. You can use the "Can I Deduct My Medical and Dental Expenses?" tool directly on the IRS website to see if your expense qualifies. For more details, click here or go to the IRS Help Line.

Please note that Beem Filer does not support itemized deductions at this time. For coverage and other important legal information about the Filer, read more here.

What forms will I need to file to itemize and obtain the Medical and Dental Expense Deduction?

Once you have determined if you qualify for the Medical and Dental Expense Deduction, the IRS may require the following forms when filing for this deduction:

If I am itemizing deductions on my return, what else can I claim as a deduction?

The IRS requires determination of eligibility when filing for deductions and credits. To see what other credits and deductions you may qualify for, please go to the Credits and Deductions for Individuals page on the IRS website.

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