Common Medical Expenses You Can’t Claim

Everyone is likely to have some out-of-pocket medical expenses during the year but many people don’t know that they can claim them.  Common examples are batteries for hearing aids, certain travel costs incurred to seek medical attention not available in your community or contact lenses for example. But there’s also a long list of expenses that can’t be claimed.  Can you name any of them?  The CRA offers a great list:

• athletic or fitness club fees
• birth control devices (non-prescription)
• blood pressure monitors
• cosmetic surgery aimed to enhance your appearance including:
  • hair replacement procedures
  • filler injections (for removing wrinkles)
  • liposuction
  • teeth whitening

However, a cosmetic surgery expense may qualify as a medical expense if required for prescribed medical or reconstructive purposes.  This can include surgery required after an accident, trauma or disfiguring condition. 

• diaper services
• health plan premiums paid by an employer and not included in your income
• liquid meal replacement products
• mobile applications to manage blood glucose level
• nebulizer to turn liquid medicine into a fine mist that can be inhaled
• organic food
• over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements, even if prescribed by a medical practitioner (except vitamin B12)
• personal response systems such as Lifeline and Health Line Services
• provincial and territorial plans such as the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan and the Ontario Health Insurance Plan
• radon testing (for example, a radon test kit or the services of a radon measurement professional) or a radon mitigation treatment system (including installation)
• the part of medical expenses (including travel expenses) for which you can get reimbursed, such as reimbursements from a private insurance