What Medical Expenses Can You Deduct on Your 2025 Tax Return?

If you incurred major medical costs last year, you may be curious about what you can deduct on your 2025 income tax return. The rules and income requirements for medical expense deductions can be complex, but you might find that more expenses qualify than you expect.

Understanding the Limits

Not all medical expenses are deductible. Expenses cannot be reimbursed by insurance or paid through tax-advantaged accounts like Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Also, you can only deduct expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). For example, if your AGI is $100,000, only medical expenses above $7,500 count toward a deduction. So, if you had $10,000 in eligible expenses, you could potentially deduct $2,500.

Medical expenses are deductible only if you itemize, meaning your total itemized deductions must be higher than the standard deduction. Although most people use the standard deduction, changes may make itemizing more beneficial, so review your options.

What Expenses Qualify?

If you expect to itemize, reviewing your medical expenses could uncover valuable deductions. Beyond doctor visits and hospital bills, many other costs may qualify.

1. Transportation: Travel related to medical care is deductible. This includes public transportation, taxis, and mileage if you use your own vehicle (21 cents per mile for 2025), plus tolls and parking.

   
   

2. Insurance Premiums: Health insurance premiums you pay out of pocket (not pre-tax through your employer) are eligible. Long-term care insurance premiums may also qualify, subject to age-based limits.

   
   

3. Therapists and Specialized Care: Payments to physical therapists, psychologists, and certain in-home care providers are eligible if related to medical treatment. General wellness services, like personal training, are not covered.

   
   

4. Vision, Dental, and Hearing Care: Expenses for eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, dentures, and most dental procedures are deductible. Cosmetic procedures generally aren’t, unless they’re medically necessary.

   
   

5. Prescription Medications: Prescription drugs are eligible, but over-the-counter medications (like aspirin) typically are not eligible, even if recommended by a doctor.

   
   

6. Smoking-Cessation Programs: Costs for programs and prescribed medications to help quit smoking are deductible. However, over-the-counter nicotine products, such as gum or patches, don’t qualify.

   
   

7. Weight-Loss Programs: Certain programs may be eligible if prescribed by a physician to address a specific medical condition, such as obesity or hypertension. It is important to maintain documentation of the diagnosis. While program fees may qualify as deductible expenses, the cost of food is generally not deductible.

   
   

8. Dependents and Family Members: You can deduct medical expenses you pay for dependents, including children. In some cases, you may also deduct expenses for relatives who would qualify as dependents except for income or filing status limitations.

After reviewing your expenses, the key question is whether you exceeded the 7.5% AGI threshold and whether itemizing makes sense for your situation.

If you’re unsure whether your expenses qualify or if the deduction will benefit you, it’s worth getting professional guidance. A careful review could help you take advantage of this and other available tax breaks on your 2025 return.