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Medical Expense Tax Deduction: How to Claim in 2026
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do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratingsMedical Expense Tax Deduction: How to Claim in 2026
You might be able to deduct qualified medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Some states offer lower thresholds.
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23 years of experience Expertise Taxes Small business Social Security and estate planning Home services RIATina Orem is an editor and content strategist at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor and content strategist, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and an MBA. Previously, she was a financial analyst and director of finance at public and private companies. Tina's work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets.
Tina Orem is an editor and content strategist at NerdWallet. Prior to becoming an editor and content strategist, she covered small business and taxes at NerdWallet. She has a degree in finance, as well as a master's degree in journalism and an MBA. Previously, she was a financial analyst and director of finance at public and private companies. Tina's work has appeared in a variety of local and national media outlets. Published in Editor & Content Strategist + more + more
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Chris Hutchison helped build NerdWallet's editorial operation and has directed coverage across banking, investing, taxes and insurance. He now leads a team exploring new verticals. Before joining NerdWallet, he was an editor and programmer at ESPN and an editor at the San Jose Mercury News. Head of Content, New Verticals + more + more
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Sabrina Parys is an editor and content strategist on the taxes and investing team at NerdWallet, where she manages and writes content on personal income taxes. Her previous experience includes five years as a copy editor and associate editor in academic and educational publishing. She is based in Brooklyn, New York. Published in Editor & Content Strategist + more + moreIf you or your dependents have been in the hospital or had other costly medical or dental expenses, keep those receipts — they could help cut your tax bill. Here's a look at how the medical expense deduction works and how you can make the most of it.
If you or your dependents have been in the hospital or had other costly medical or dental expenses, keep those receipts — they could help cut your tax bill. Here's a look at how the medical expense deduction works and how you can make the most of it.Are medical expenses tax-deductible?
Are medical expenses tax-deductible?Taxpayers can deduct qualified, unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. The 7.5% threshold used to be 10%, but legislative changes at the end of 2019 lowered it.
Taxpayers can deduct qualified, unreimbursed medical expenses that are more than 7.5% of their adjusted gross income. The 7.5% threshold used to be 10%, but legislative changes at the end of 2019 lowered it.Generally, you can only include the medical expenses you paid during the year, and you can’t include expenses you were reimbursed for, so if insurance paid the bill or you used your FSA to pay for the expense, it’s not deductible
Generally, you can only include the medical expenses you paid during the year, and you can’t include expenses you were reimbursed for, so if insurance paid the bill or you used your FSA to pay for the expense, it’s not deductible Internal Revenue Service. IRS Publication 502 . Accessed Feb 16, 2024. .Example: If your adjusted gross income is $40,000, anything beyond the first $3,000 of unreimbursed medical bills — or 7.5% of your AGI — could be deductible. That means if you had $10,000 in medical bills, you may be able to write off $7,000 worth of those expenses.
Example: Example: If your adjusted gross income is $40,000, anything beyond the first $3,000 of unreimbursed medical bills — or 7.5% of your AGI — could be deductible. That means if you had $10,000 in medical bills, you may be able to write off $7,000 worth of those expenses. AD Owe $10,000+ or More? This Tax Season Could Be Your Chance to Qualify Each year the IRS writes off millions in tax debt, yet few have applied. Learn moreon Anthem Tax Services' website
AD Let’s resolve your tax issues: Tax Relief & Resolution Services for IRS Tax Debt Certified Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and Tax Attorneys on your case. Learn moreon TaxRise's website
Which medical expenses are tax-deductible?
Which medical expenses are tax-deductible?IRS Publication 502 has the full list, but in a nutshell, here's what may count as a medical expense.
IRS Publication 502 has the full list, but in a nutshell, here's what may count as a medical expense.Medical payments and some insurance premiums: Payments to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists and other medical practitioners are generally deductible. Insurance premiums for medical care or long-term care insurance are also deductible if they’re not paid by your employer and you pay out of pocket after taxes.
Medical payments and some insurance premiums: Medical payments and some insurance premiums: Payments to doctors, dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, psychiatrists, psychologists and other medical practitioners are generally deductible. Insurance premiums for medical care or long-term care insurance are also deductible if they’re not paid by your employer and you pay out of pocket after taxes.Prescription drugs, medicines and other medically necessary items: This can include insulin, prescription drugs, dentures, eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs, service animals and more.
Prescription drugs, medicines and other medically necessary items: Prescription drugs, medicines and other medically necessary items: This can include insulin, prescription drugs, dentures, eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids, crutches, wheelchairs, service animals and more.Reproductive care: This can include the cost of pregnancy tests, birth control, breast pumps, and other lactation supplies, as well as procedures such as in vitro fertilization, vasectomies and legal abortions. Costs associated with surrogacy are not deductible.
Reproductive care: Reproductive care: This can include the cost of pregnancy tests, birth control, breast pumps, and other lactation supplies, as well as procedures such as in vitro fertilization, vasectomies and legal abortions. Costs associated with surrogacy are not deductible.Certain health programs and services: This covers addiction programs, such as those for quitting smoking, and weight-loss programs for doctor-diagnosed diseases (but food and health club dues usually don’t count).
Certain health programs and services: Certain health programs and services: This covers addiction programs, such as those for quitting smoking, and weight-loss programs for doctor-diagnosed diseases (but food and health club dues usually don’t count).Transportation: Transportation costs to and from medical care generally count as deductible. Admission and transportation to medical conferences about diseases that you, your spouse or your dependents have also count, but meals and lodging related to that event do not.
Transportation: Transportation: Transportation costs to and from medical care generally count as deductible. Admission and transportation to medical conferences about diseases that you, your spouse or your dependents have also count, but meals and lodging related to that event do not.Operations: You generally are able to deduct costs related to noncosmetic surgeries and procedures, such as breast reconstruction following a mastectomy or laser eye surgery.
Operations: Operations: You generally are able to deduct costs related to noncosmetic surgeries and procedures, such as breast reconstruction following a mastectomy or laser eye surgery.Hospital and nursing home care: If you pay for nursing home or hospital care for yourself, your dependent or a spouse, costs related to that care may be deductible.
Hospital and nursing home care: Hospital and nursing home care: If you pay for nursing home or hospital care for yourself, your dependent or a spouse, costs related to that care may be deductible.Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible?
Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible?Again, Publication 502 is your best guide here, but the following expenses are not allowable:
Again, Publication 502 is your best guide here, but the following expenses are not allowable:Funeral expenses.
Funeral expenses.Over-the-counter medicines.
Over-the-counter medicines.Controlled substances.
Controlled substances.Toothpaste, toiletries and cosmetics.
Toothpaste, toiletries and cosmetics.Nicotine gum and patches that don't require a prescription.
Nicotine gum and patches that don't require a prescription.Most cosmetic surgery and treatment (e.g., electrolysis, hair transplants, teeth whitening).
Most cosmetic surgery and treatment (e.g., electrolysis, hair transplants, teeth whitening).» Ready to file? See our best tax software picks
» » Ready to file? Ready to file? See our best tax software picksHow to claim the medical expense deduction
How to claim the medical expense deductionItemize on your taxes
Itemize on your taxesFirst, you’ll need to itemize instead of taking the standard deduction. For reference, the standard deduction for tax year 2025 ranges from $15,750 to $31,500, depending on your filing status. If your standard deduction ends up being less than your itemized deductions, you may want to itemize to save money. On the other hand, if your standard deduction is more than your itemized deductions, taking the standard deduction will save you some time.
First, you’ll need to itemize instead of taking the standard deduction . For reference, the standard deduction for tax year 2025 ranges from $15,750 to $31,500, depending on your filing status. If your standard deduction ends up being less than your itemized deductions, you may want to itemize to save money. On the other hand, if your standard deduction is more than your itemized deductions, taking the standard deduction will save you some time.» Learn more about itemizing versus taking the standard deduction
» » Learn more about Learn more about itemizing versus taking the standard deductionUse Schedule A
Use Schedule ASchedule A allows you to do the math to calculate your deduction. Your tax software can walk you through the steps.
Schedule A allows you to do the math to calculate your deduction. Your tax software can walk you through the steps.Keep good records
Keep good recordsHang onto those bills, and ask for records from your pharmacy or other care providers to fill in the holes, says Peter Gurian, a Dallas-area certified public accountant.
Hang onto those bills, and ask for records from your pharmacy or other care providers to fill in the holes, says Peter Gurian, a Dallas-area certified public accountant.“If you're taking this deduction, you're probably pretty sick or you've got some problems that need to be dealt with. If that's the case, then the key is to really do a good job of keeping track of every single expense and expenditure,” he says.
“If you're taking this deduction, you're probably pretty sick or you've got some problems that need to be dealt with. If that's the case, then the key is to really do a good job of keeping track of every single expense and expenditure,” he says. AD Owe $10,000+ or More? This Tax Season Could Be Your Chance to Qualify Each year the IRS writes off millions in tax debt, yet few have applied. Learn moreon Anthem Tax Services' website
AD Let’s resolve your tax issues: Tax Relief & Resolution Services for IRS Tax Debt Certified Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and Tax Attorneys on your case. Learn moreon TaxRise's website
Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?
Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?Consider your filing status. Filing separately if you’re married could get you a bigger medical expense deduction, but this move is risky because you might lose other tax breaks. Let’s say your spouse had $6,000 in medical bills last year. If you file jointly and your combined AGI is $100,000, then only the portion of your medical bills over 7.5% of that — or the portion over $7,500 — is deductible. So in this scenario, you can’t deduct any of your $6,000 in medical bills.
Consider your filing status. Filing separately if you’re married could get you a bigger medical expense deduction, but this move is risky because you might lose other tax breaks. Let’s say your spouse had $6,000 in medical bills last year. If you file jointly and your combined AGI is $100,000, then only the portion of your medical bills over 7.5% of that — or the portion over $7,500 — is deductible. So in this scenario, you can’t deduct any of your $6,000 in medical bills.Now, let’s say you file separately. Your AGI is $75,000, and your spouse’s AGI is $25,000. Because the medical bills are your spouse’s, they could deduct anything over 7.5% of that $25,000 AGI, or $1,875. That would mean a $4,125 tax deduction for filing separately.
Now, let’s say you file separately . Your AGI is $75,000, and your spouse’s AGI is $25,000. Because the medical bills are your spouse’s, they could deduct anything over 7.5% of that $25,000 AGI, or $1,875. That would mean a $4,125 tax deduction for filing separately.» MORE: See what tax filing status you should use
» MORE: » MORE: See what tax filing status you should useState thresholds for the medical expense deduction
State thresholds for the medical expense deductionYour state might have a lower AGI threshold, which could save you money, says Chris Whalen, a certified public accountant in Red Bank, New Jersey. In New Jersey, for example, the AGI threshold for deducting medical expenses is just 2%, which means taxpayers there might get a break on their state income taxes even if they can’t get one on their federal income taxes.
Your state might have a lower AGI threshold, which could save you money, says Chris Whalen, a certified public accountant in Red Bank, New Jersey. In New Jersey, for example, the AGI threshold for deducting medical expenses is just 2%, which means taxpayers there might get a break on their state income taxes even if they can’t get one on their federal income taxes.Whalen says it’s important to find out what your state’s rule is; you might leave money on the table otherwise. “I see it every year, all the time,” he says.
Whalen says it’s important to find out what your state’s rule is; you might leave money on the table otherwise. “I see it every year, all the time,” he says.ON THIS PAGE
Are medical expenses tax-deductible? Are medical expenses tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible? How to claim the medical expense deduction How to claim the medical expense deduction Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes? Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes? State thresholds for the medical expense deduction State thresholds for the medical expense deductionON THIS PAGE
Are medical expenses tax-deductible? Are medical expenses tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible? Which medical expenses are not tax-deductible? How to claim the medical expense deduction How to claim the medical expense deduction Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes? Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes? State thresholds for the medical expense deduction State thresholds for the medical expense deduction More like this Taxes Popular Tax Credits for 2026: How They Work Tax credits can come in handy when it's time to file your return. Here's a breakdown of common ones, including the earned income credit, child tax credit and clean energy credits. 2 By Sabrina Parys, Tina Orem 25 Popular Tax Deductions and Tax Breaks for 2025-2026 A deduction cuts the income you're taxed on, which can mean a lower bill. A credit cuts your tax bill directly. Learn more about common tax breaks and write-offs — and how to claim them. 2 By Sabrina Parys, Tina Orem Itemized Deductions: What They Are, Examples Itemizing allows you to pick and choose your tax deductions. Common deductions include those for medical expenses, mortgage interest and property tax. 2 By Tina Orem, Sabrina Parys Get started Get startedon Priority Tax Relief's website
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