Question

Medical expenses deduction question

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 19, 2025
2 replies
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Hello I don't know if there are different rules for different states so I live in Maryland.

I am on TPN which is IV nutrition. I know that I can deduct the TPN itself, the equipment and medication that comes with it. My question is that I want to purchase a locking backpack to hold my medical equipment like syringes, medication vials, etc. I also want to purchase a case that will hold and protect the medication in the vials as well as a travel sized sharps container for the used needles and keep everything in that backpack. Does that qualify as a medical deduction since it's technically being used for medical equipment?

Deduction

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Opus 17

Sharps containers are definitely eligible. I don't see a clear statement about cases and protective gear, but when I got a CPAP machine it included a carrying case and I didn't subtract that when I got HSA reimbursement for the rest. I think your expenses are ok, based on your description that they are somewhat specialized (a locking backpack) and assuming you don't also use them for more than trivial personal purposes. (What I mean by more than trivial, is that it would be ok to put your wallet and phone in the medical backpack, that's a trivial personal use -- but if the medical backpack evolves into a carry-all for your life on the road and its medical use becomes less important, then it wouldn't qualify any more.)

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ThomasM125

To be deductible, the equipment must be needed for medical purposes. It would be up to you to decide that based on the facts and circumstances. Here is an excerpt from IRS publication 502 that mentions what medical expenses are: