topic medical deductions in Deductions & credits

medical deductions

Chattyme — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:40:25 GMT

1. Can we deduct acupuncture and Chinese herbs supplied from accupuncturist?

2. can we deduct optometrist exam and eyeglasses?

3. can we deduct Naprapath services (similar to chiropractor)?

above for 1040 and state (Illinois)

we have more than $13,000 spent out of pocket 2021

Re: medical deductions

KrisD15 — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 22:13:24 GMT

Illinois has a new medical deduction for self-employed Taxpayers, but other than that, medical expenses on the Illinois State return follow the same requirements as the IRS uses for the Federal 1040, Schedule A.

1. Acupuncture, YES

"You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for acupuncture."

Chinese herbs supplied from accupuncturist, NO

"You can't 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."

optometrist exam and eyeglasses? YES

Naprapath

The IRS defines medical expenses as, "an expense is for "medical care" if its primary purpose is the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease."

and

"You can include in medical expenses fees you pay to a chiropractor for medical care."

So if this is similar, it would be allowed.

The answer linked below suggests those expenses are deductible and has never been challenged for several years.

Additional answer

Re: medical deductions

Opus 17 — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:20:56 GMT

@Chattyme

For questions #1 and #3, you didn’t specify why those treatments were incurred. You can’t deduct expenses to maintain general health, only expenses to diagnose, cure, treat, or mitigate a disease or condition that affects the natural function of the body. So it depends very much on why you were having those services performed.

Re: medical deductions

Chattyme — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:37:47 GMT

Both Treatments from acupunture/herbalist/naprapath are for health issues and pain. But no priimary dr sent me there if that matters. Cant naprapath and acupuncturist be considered primary in certain conditions as long as their records indicate?

Re: medical deductions

Opus 17 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 16:11:28 GMT

@Chattyme wrote:

Both Treatments from acupunture/herbalist/naprapath are for health issues and pain. But no priimary dr sent me there if that matters. Cant naprapath and acupuncturist be considered primary in certain conditions as long as their records indicate?

There is no requirement that you be referred by your primary, only that the treatment is intended to cure, treat or mitigate a disease or condition affecting the natural function of the body.

Re: medical deductions

Budman7226 — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 17:44:43 GMT

My medical deduction did not get carried over to the State

Re: medical deductions

DoninGA — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 17:49:00 GMT

@Budman7226 wrote:

My medical deduction did not get carried over to the State

What state?

Re: medical deductions

DoninGA — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 17:55:05 GMT

@Budman7226 wrote:

My medical deduction did not get carried over to the State

Answered here - https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-state-of-massachusetts-does-not-show-my-medical-deduction/01/2816875#M269425