10 medical tax deductions that can save you money

Most people are aware they can claim the medical expenses tax credit, but many don’t keep a running tally because they simply forget or don’t think it will add up to worthwhile savings, tax experts say. For many people, that's a potentially costly mistake.

“I put it down as being one of the most well known and least utilized [tax credits],” says Alan Rowell, tax specialist and president of Hamilton, Ont.-based Accounting Place.

The tax credit applies to any number of medical expenses — including prescription drugs, eyeglasses, medical-related home renovations, dental work and even buying gluten-free bread or medical marijuana.

The list of eligible expenses is quite exhaustive so it is worth checking out. “If you don’t start adding them up, you’ll never know,” Rowell says.

The CRA website offers a list of available medical expenses, and at the end of this article CBC News has compiled some that you may know, some you ought to know and some you’ve likely never heard before.

The caveat is that the government automatically deducts the lesser of either $2,052 or three per cent of your net income from a person's total expenses. For some that means the credit may be small or even nonexistent, but for others it's definitely worthwhile to make a claim.

You do need to do some homework, in terms of keeping your medical expense receipts. It's something that is not easy to do over the course of a year unless you make a conscious effort to put the receipts aside, Rowell says.

For those who make the effort, anything over the amount automatically deducted by the Canada Revenue Agency means money in your pocket.

One trick worth being aware of is that the CRA also lets you choose any 12-month period for which to claim, says chartered accountant James Gustafson from Victoria-based Gustafson Accounting. So if you had a number of medical expenses over several months between 2010 and 2011, but they fell within a period of 12 consecutive months, you can arrange your claim to get the maximum benefit.

Another time-saver that Rowell recommends is to contact your local drugstore — where you usually get prescriptions — to see if they can provide one single receipt for the whole year, thereby avoiding the hassle of compiling 12-months worth of receipts.

Taxpayers should also be aware that for the 2011 tax year the government has eliminated the $10,000 limit for medical expenses incurred while caring for an adult dependent, he says. So, if you've been caring for a child over the age of 18 or a relative, you can claim the full amount of eligible expenses.

Another of the most often overlooked credits is the disability tax credit — which coincidentally happens to be the most lucrative non-refundable tax credit, worth $1,500 or more in real money depending on the province.

The credit is intended for those with severe and prolonged physical or mental impairments. To be eligible, the disability must significantly restrict activities of daily living, including walking, eating, speaking or some combination thereof. A physician or licensed practitioner must complete and certify the medical section on form T2201.

Rowell says part of the reason it is often missed is because it is poorly named.

“I think they should call it a restricted quality of life tax credit, because I think that’s really what it is,” he says.

The disability tax credit can be claimed retroactively up to 10 years if a person has been experiencing eligible impairments but has only now applied for the credit. That can add up to a major tax refund.

“We can get into some real money and people just don’t realize it,” Rowell says.

The credit can also be transferred to a spouse or other family member, he adds.

Rowell recommends a person speak with their doctor if they think they might qualify for the disability tax credit.

“It’s one of those things,” he says. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

Good advice for anyone looking to reduce the amount of tax they have to pay each year, medical expenses included.

It appears the CRA has dealt with every possibility for health care expenses, which has made for a wide range of products and procedures that can be claimed. Some you may know, some you should know and some are downright surprising. Below is a partial list of excerpts taken from the CRA website.

Air conditioner — The lesser of $1,000 and 50 per cent of the amount paid for the air conditioner for an individual with a severe chronic ailment, disease, or disorder — prescription required.

Attendant care expenses — Attendant care expenses are amounts you or your spouse or common-law partner paid for attendant care or care in any of the following places:

Self-contained domestic establishments.

Retirement homes, homes for seniors, or other institutions.

Nursing homes (full-time care).

Special schools, institutions, or other places (providing care or care and training).

Group homes in Canada.

Bathroom aids — To help a person get in or out of a bathtub or shower or to get on or off a toilet — prescription required.

Bone marrow transplant — Reasonable amounts paid to locate a compatible donor to arrange the transplant, including legal fees and insurance premiums, and reasonable travelling costs including board and lodging for the patient, the donor, and their respective companions.

Cancer treatment — In or outside Canada, provided by a medical practitioner or a public or licensed private hospital.

Cosmetic surgery — Generally, expenses for purely cosmetic procedures are eligible only if incurred before March 4, 2010. An expense will continue to qualify as a medical expense if it is necessary for medical or reconstructive purposes, such as surgery to address a deformity related to a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Eyes — eyeglasses, contact lenses or other vision devices for the treatment of vision correction, and artificial eye — prescription required.

Furnace — The amount paid for an electric or sealed combustion furnace to replace a furnace that is neither of these, where the replacement is necessary because of a person's severe chronic respiratory ailment or immune system disorder — prescription required.

Hospitals services — Public or private, that are designated as hospitals by the province, territory or jurisdiction where they are located.

In vitro fertility program — Paid to a medical practitioner or a public or licensed private hospital, not including donations to a sperm bank.

Orthodontic work including braces — Expenses for purely cosmetic procedures are not eligible.

Scooter — The amount paid for a scooter that is used in place of a wheelchair.

Tests — The cost of medical tests such as cardiographs, electrocardiograms, metabolism tests, radiological services or procedures, spinal fluid tests, stool examinations, sugar content tests, urine analysis, and x-ray services. Also claim the cost of any related interpretation or diagnosis — prescription required.

Travel expenses — If medical treatment is not available to you within 40 kilometres from your locality, you may be able to claim the cost of public transportation (for example, taxi, bus, or train) to get the treatment somewhere else. However, if public transportation is not readily available, you can claim vehicle expenses to get medical treatment. In addition, if you have to travel more than 80 kilometres from your locality for medical treatment, you may be able to claim the cost of your meals and accommodations. You can also claim travel expenses for someone to accompany you if a medical practitioner certifies in writing that you are unable to travel without assistance.

Walking aids — The amount paid for devices designed exclusively to help a person who has a mobility impairment to walk — prescription required.

Water filter, cleaner, or purifier — The amount paid for a person to cope with or overcome a severe chronic respiratory ailment, or severe chronic immune system disregulation — prescription required.

Whirlpool bath treatments — The amount paid to a medical practitioner. A hot tub that you install in your home, even if prescribed by a medical practitioner, is not eligible.

Wigs — The amount paid for a person who has suffered abnormal hair loss due to a disease, accident, or medical treatment — prescription required.

The full list of eligible expenses can be found at the CRA site. It's user-friendly and arranged alphabetically.

There are a number of expenses that are commonly claimed as medical expenses but don't qualify. Here is the complete non-eligible expenses list from the CRA.

Athletic or fitness club fees.

Birth control devices (non-prescription).

Blood pressure monitors.

Cosmetic surgery — Expenses for purely cosmetic procedures, including any related services and other expenses such as travel, incurred after March 4, 2010, cannot be claimed as medical expenses. Both surgical and non-surgical procedures purely aimed at enhancing one's appearance are not eligible.

There are a number of expenses that people commonly try to claim as medical expenses but which don't qualify.

Liposuction.

Hair replacement procedures.

Botulinum injections.

Teeth whitening.

An expense, including those identified above, may qualify as a medical expense if it is necessary for medical or reconstructive purposes, such as surgery to address a deformity related to a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Diaper services.

Health plan premiums paid by an employer and not included in your income.

Health programs.

Organic food.

Over-the-counter medications.

Vitamins, and supplements, even if prescribed by a medical practitioner.

Personal response systems such as Lifeline and Health Line Services.

Travel expenses for which you can get reimbursed.

The following provincial and territorial plans:

Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan.

Manitoba Health Plan.

Medical Services Plan of British Columbia

New Brunswick Medicare Division of Provincial Department of Health.

Newfoundland Medical Care Plan.

Northwest Territories Health Insurance Services Agency of Territorial Government.

Nova Scotia Medical Services Insurance.

Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Prince Edward Island Health Services Payment Plan.

Quebec Health Insurance Board (including payments made to the Health Services Fund).

Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Plan.

Yukon Territorial Insurance Commission.