How to Deduct Medical Expenses on Your Tax Return

You may be able to write off what you pay out of pocket for health care, but only to the extent that those expenses exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income.

(Image credit: BrianAJackson)
Kimberly Lankford
By Kimberly Lankford
published

Question: What are the rules for deducting medical expenses on my tax return?

Answer: Many medical expenses that you pay out of pocket for yourself, your spouse and your dependents may be tax-deductible, but you can only deduct those expenses to the extent they exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income in 2017 (for 2016, the cut-off was 7.5% for people age 65 and older and 10% for everyone else). You also need to itemize deductions to take advantage of this write-off.

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Kimberly Lankford
Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.