Hi all,

Has anyone checked to see if you can use the amount you paid for the Lap Band surgery towards a medical tax deducation? I know the law is that if you spend more than 7.5% (I think) of your adjusted gross income in medical bills in a year you can use it as a write off, I'm just not sure if this counts, or if it's considered elective since insurance didn't cover it.

I appreciate insight anyone has... it would certainly be nice if I could get some extra relief at tax time!

Lori

Loridee, I am not sure. That is a great question though. I think any attempt in the assistance in weight loss will now be tax deductible. That is what I had heard. I will have to look into it myself. Thanks for bringing it up. Sorry I wasn't much help.

Yes, the IRS ruled a couple of years ago that obesity-related medical expenses are deductible, including surgery.

I was just talking to my hubby last night and asked him if he thought we could write off the surgery costs. He suggested I come online and look and sure enough the answer was right there. Thanks for the help. Shawna

Oh YEAH BABY!! I was able to claim every nickle and dime I spent the year I was banded. I had a VERY nice refund that year. Don't forget once you hit the threshold you can claim everything your family spent. Dentist visits, doctor co-pays, pharmacy expenses, I've even heard you can include travel costs though I didn't include that on mine. You also don't have to worry about trying to track down every receipt, just call each doctor, dentist, pharmacy your family may have gone to throughout the year and ask them to send you a statement for the year.

Yep!! I called my doc yesterday and asked him to send me a copy of my bill and a letter stating that the surgery was for treatment of Morbid Obesity. That fulfills all the guidelines that I've seen about this being deductible. I am deducting mileage only since I drive 558 miles round trip to visit the doc. I've been 6 times this year so that certainly added up. I didn't feel the need to track down the 1 night stay in a hotel.

Refund here I come!!!!!!

For REAL?? I'm calling my accountant this AM, cause I paid double (30k for me and hubby to get banded), and I'd like some plastic surgery slush fund money back!!!

So glad I saw this...THANKS!!!

Does this apply to surgeries done out of country??

Thanks!

The information below was copied from Internal Revenue Service relating to tax deductions for weight loss surgery. I feel that is deductible and plan to deduct as I was self pay.

Weight-Loss Program<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay to lose weight if it is a treatment for a specific disease diagnosed by a physician (such as obesity, hypertension, or heart disease). This includes fees you pay for membership in a weight reduction group and attendance at periodic meetings. You cannot include membership dues in a gym, health club, or spa as medical expenses, but you can include separate fees charged there for weight loss activities. <o:p></o:p>

You cannot include the cost of diet food or beverages in medical expenses because the diet food and beverages substitute for what is normally consumed to satisfy nutritional needs. You can include the cost of special food in medical expenses only if: <o:p></o:p>

1.The food does not satisfy normal nutritional needs,<o:p></o:p>

2.The food alleviates or treats an illness, and<o:p></o:p>

3.The need for the food is substantiated by a physician.<o:p></o:p>

The amount you can include in medical expenses is limited to the amount by which the cost of the special food exceeds the cost of a normal diet. See also Weight-Loss Program under What Expenses Are Not Includible, later. <o:p></o:p>

Operations<o:p></o:p>

You can include in medical expenses amounts you pay for legal operations that are not for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. See Cosmetic Surgery under What Expenses Are Not Includible, later. <o:p></o:p>

Cosmetic Surgery<o:p></o:p>

Generally, you cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for unnecessary cosmetic surgery. This includes any procedure that is directed at improving the patient's appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease. You generally cannot include in medical expenses the amount you pay for procedures such as face lifts, hair transplants, hair removal (electrolysis), and liposuction. <o:p></o:p>

You can include in medical expenses the amount you pay for cosmetic surgery if it is necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

Yep!! I called my doc yesterday and asked him to send me a copy of my bill and a letter stating that the surgery was for treatment of Morbid Obesity. That fulfills all the guidelines that I've seen about this being deductible. I am deducting mileage only since I drive 558 miles round trip to visit the doc. I've been 6 times this year so that certainly added up. I didn't feel the need to track down the 1 night stay in a hotel.

Refund here I come!!!!!!

Hi Wombat,

I see that your doc is also Dr. Spivak. Were they helpful when you asked for the bill and the letter?

By the way, great weight loss!

Skinny_Jill: I sent them an email and one of the ladies responded within a couple of hours that they put the package in the mail to me. I haven't seen the letter and they didn't say anything about not giving me what I was asking for. Here's the email address in case you don't have it: spivak1470@sbcglobal.net

Thanks for the compliment I'm trying to work out when my next fill is going to be. My weight loss has slowed this last month - not sure if it's a real slowing or just all the crap from the holidays

wombat

BTW SkinnyJill - you have done fantastic in such a short time!!! woohoo for you

I was SO hoping that was the case! Now I just need to track down all of my receipts (or call the doctors), and here I go! Every little bit helps!!!

Loridee, I got the surgery form from the Dr that stated mine and husbands surgery was for morbid obesity, that was all my accountant needed.

BINGO!

Travel expenses, per diem, etc. All can be deducted.

BUT it IS less the 7.5% of your income everyone, and you have to be able to fill in a Schedule A and beat the deduction the government gives you.

To everyone who can, congratulations!!!:pray2: