Re federal income taxes:
Assuming one's medical expenses have exceeded 7.5% of AGI:
Are acupuncture treatments to relieve muscle and joint aches delivered by a state licensed acupuncturist deductible?
How about Yoga sessions to relieve stress delivered by a trained professional?
Thanks guys,
Jeff
Yes. From publication 502
Acupuncture
You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for acupuncture.
ENDQUOTE
It is not mentioned in publication 502. Even if you have doctor's order for it, I don't know if it would pass because what if a doctor recommends running to reduce the risk of heart attack, then are the running shoes deductible -- probably not.
My understanding is that the distinction is between whether it's for general health or for a specific condition. If general health it's not deductible, if prescribed for a specific condition it is.
Isn't that only for OTC medicines and nutritional supplements? From publication 502
Nutritional Supplements
You cannot include in medical expenses the cost of nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal supplements, ?natural medicines,? etc. unless they are recommended by a medical practitioner as treatment for a specific medical condition diagnosed by a physician. Otherwise, these items are taken to maintain your ordinary good health, and are not for medical care.
Physical therapy?
If a doctor says to build a pool so you can swim for exercise, that's a medical expense (by the amount it exceeds the increase in value of the property). If the doctor didn't specify expensive running shoes, you could have run in $5 sneakers (which some authorities believe are better for you anyway).
Seth
Yes.
No. General exercise is not a medical procedure.
"If a doctor says to build a pool so you can swim for exercise, that's a medical expense"
I don't wholly agree with that. It still has to meet the criteria for a medical expense deduction and, if it is only for an individual's general health, the doctor's statement does not raise it to the level of deductibility.
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