{"id":61,"date":"2026-03-04T06:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T11:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mytaxservices.ca\/tax\/?page_id=61"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:47:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:47:13","slug":"what-medical-expenses-are-tax-deductible-in-canada","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mytaxservices.ca\/tax\/what-medical-expenses-are-tax-deductible-in-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"What medical expenses are tax-deductible in Canada?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Canadians can claim many medical expenses on their income tax return, helping to lower the amount of tax they pay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) allows you to claim eligible medical costs for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and certain dependants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What medical expenses can you claim on your tax return?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Government of Canada, you can claim most out-of-pocket medical costs that are not reimbursed by a health insurance plan. Some common eligible expenses include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Payments to doctors, dentists, nurses, and other licensed medical practitioners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prescription drugs and medications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dental services and orthodontic work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical devices and equipment such as hearing aids, CPAP machines, and wheelchairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vision care, including prescription glasses and contact lenses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical laboratory services and diagnostic tests<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Premiums paid for private health insurance plans (such as through your employer)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For the full list, visit the CRA\u2019s official page on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/individuals\/topics\/about-your-tax-return\/tax-return\/completing-a-tax-return\/deductions-credits-expenses\/lines-33099-33199-eligible-medical-expenses-you-claim-on-your-tax-return.html\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/individuals\/topics\/about-your-tax-return\/tax-return\/completing-a-tax-return\/deductions-credits-expenses\/lines-33099-33199-eligible-medical-expenses-you-claim-on-your-tax-return.html\">eligible medical expenses.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who can you claim medical expenses for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can claim medical expenses for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your spouse or common-law partner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any dependant, including your children or another relative who relies on you for support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are claiming for a dependant, that person must have been a resident of Canada during the tax year. The expenses can be combined, but you can only claim them once per household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you calculate the medical expense tax credit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The medical expense tax credit is a non-refundable credit, which means it can reduce the amount of tax you owe, but it cannot create a refund on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can claim eligible expenses that exceed the lesser of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>3% of your net income, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>$2,759 (for the 2025 tax year; check the CRA for the latest threshold).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if your net income is $60,000, 3% equals $1,800. You can claim any qualifying expenses that exceed that amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are examples of eligible medical practitioners and services?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The CRA only allows claims for services provided by practitioners who are licensed in your province or territory. Examples include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Acupuncturists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chiropractors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dentists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Medical doctors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Occupational therapists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optometrists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Physiotherapists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychologists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Speech therapists<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can travel and accommodation expenses be claimed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, certain travel expenses can be claimed when you must travel at least 40 kilometres (one way) from your home to obtain medical services not available locally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may claim:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Public transportation fares (or vehicle expenses if no public transport is available)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meals and accommodation if you must travel 80 kilometres or more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Travel for an attendant if medically necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What medical expenses are not tax-deductible?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not every health-related cost qualifies. The CRA specifically excludes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cosmetic surgery not medically required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gym memberships and personal trainers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Over-the-counter medications (unless prescribed)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health or life insurance premiums not related to medical coverage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What documentation do you need to support your claim?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep all official receipts and statements for each medical expense you claim. Your receipts should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The name of the patient<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The name and credentials of the practitioner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The date of payment and service<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The amount paid and proof of payment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your insurance reimbursed part of the cost, only the unreimbursed portion is eligible for a tax credit. The CRA may request copies of receipts during a review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should you claim your medical expenses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can claim medical expenses for any 12-month period ending in the <a href=\"https:\/\/mytaxservices.ca\/tax\/what-are-tax-advantaged-investments-in-canada\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/mytaxservices.ca\/tax\/what-are-tax-advantaged-investments-in-canada\/\">tax <\/a>year (not necessarily the calendar year). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, you can claim eligible expenses paid between February 2024 and January 2025 on your 2025 return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This flexibility allows you to maximize your claim if you had high expenses in a specific period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Canadians can claim many medical expenses on their income tax return, helping to lower the amount of tax they pay. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"iawp_total_views":2,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-61","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What medical expenses are tax-deductible in Canada?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/mytaxservices.ca\/tax\/what-medical-expenses-are-tax-deductible-in-canada\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What medical expenses are tax-deductible in Canada?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Canadians can claim many medical expenses on their income tax return, helping to lower the amount of tax they pay. 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