Are over the counter blood glucose monitor, testing strips and lancets deductible?

[qiuqian0704]

I know over the counter medicines are not deductible. And I have read the irs page on medical expenses but I still have concerns. My blood glucose monitor, lancets and strips are all over the counter ones. Are they deductible?

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

Yes.

Diagnostic Devices

You can include in medical expenses the cost of devices used in diagnosing and treating illness and disease.

Example.

You have diabetes and use a blood sugar test kit to monitor your blood sugar level. You can include the cost of the blood sugar test kit in your medical expenses.

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p502#en_US_2017_publink1000178925

[qiuqian0704]

So it doesn’t matter whether it’s over the counter?

[Coleen3]

The IRS makes no distinction for this particular expense.

[qiuqian0704]

Thanks for clarifying. I’m married but plan to file separately, can I still claim my spouse’s medical expenses even though I don’t claim her as dependent?

[Coleen3]

Does she file a return?

[qiuqian0704]

Yes. We both file separately.

[Coleen3]

No, she takes her own deductions. If one MFS spouse takes Itemized Deductions, the other loses their standard deduction and is forced to itemize with whatever they can come up with.

[qiuqian0704]

But if I take standard deduction, would I still able to deduct medical expenses for NJ state tax return. Do I need to attach federal schedule A with NJ state return?

[Coleen3]

You don't have to take the standard deduction. You can both itemize. The rule is if YOU itemize, she can't take the standard deduction.

[qiuqian0704]

I suspect we both can surpass the standard deduction. So we may take standard on federal instead. So how about the NJ tax part?