#9546 02-11-2007 04:58 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I have been asked to post the income tax rules for medical deductions attributable to our cancer.
That would be quite an undertaking this time of year and I'm not sure how much use it would be to our posters.
What I have decided to do is to offer to answer anyone's questions concerning that topic. This way I can see what interest may be out there. If I find a lot of interest I can always post something after this year's tax season. Brian has said he might want to add a page to the main part of the OCF web site.
I will also answer any other questions related to taxation as long as you keep it to U.S. Federal income tax.
I am not a medical doctor but I am a Tax "doctor" and if I can help anyone save tax dollars, I'm sure that will come in handy.
Feel free to e me with non medical related tax questions.
My profession will require a disclaimer attached to every response and of course this site disclaims any responsiblity for any response I offer. Remember I am offering my services for free to help fellow posters so lets see where this goes.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#9547 02-11-2007 08:59 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | O.K., here's one- Tonite we wil travel to Batesville, Ar. to spend the night in a motel, so that we can have John at Chemo at 7:30 am tomorrow and then have a place for him to rest before an early afternoon appt. with a Rad oncologist. Is our overnight stay in the hotel deductible? I am also taking my daughter, who is an RN, because I do not feel comfortable being in a motel alone with him in his present condition. Amy in the Ozarks. By the way, this is a good idea.
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#9548 02-11-2007 09:37 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Amy, I have no idea about the motel, but I have been deducting mileage to and from appointments for years. If you are not doing this already, it would be a good thing to keep track of as it can really add up. | | |
#9549 02-11-2007 10:08 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Yep, 7620 miles in 2006 to chemo and Ent appts. :rolleyes: Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#9550 02-12-2007 09:36 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Amy of Oz,
1. Travel (local as well as non local) and Lodging essential for medical care is deductible.
2. Mileage is deductible at 18 cents per mile with no yearly limit.
3. Lodging for all 3 of you is allowed but capped at $50 per person per night with no yearly limit.
4. Food, however is not deductible.
5. Remember all medical expenses on filed on Sch A.
Sorry it took so long to get back to you. I was in court today.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#9551 02-12-2007 09:51 AM | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | David, quickly reassure us that you were in court defending a client, not in court defending yourself!
Age 67 1/2 Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05 Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08 Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08 Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06 Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08) Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08) On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
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#9552 02-12-2007 01:04 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Pete,
O ye of little faith.
Yes, I was getting paid handsomely, not the other way around.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#9553 02-12-2007 01:40 PM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 | David, When adding up the medical expenses for the year, can you include the medical expenses that were paid for out of a Health Care Spending account from work? The kind that you decide how much you want in the account for the year, then it comes out of each paycheck and is not taxed. Thank you.
Ginny, spouse of MikeG. SSC BOT T2N1M0 Stage III, Dx 06/27/06 at age 52, Tx 07/31/06 through 09/28/06 Chemo Cisplatin & 5FU x2, Radiation x42. Cancer free and doing well.
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#9554 02-12-2007 04:00 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 | Amy,
I get to answer your question about the hotel
YES ! Just make sure you have the receipt.
2004 SCC R.tip 1/4 tongue Oct. 2005 R. Neck SCC cancer/Chemo Cisplatin 2x/8wks. Rad. Removed Jugular vein, Lymph gland & some neck muscle. TX finished 1/20/06... B.Cancer 3/29/07 Finished 6/07 Bi-op 7/15/09 SCC in-situ, laser surgery removed from 1st. sight. Right jaw replacement 11/3/14. 9 yrs cancer free as of Jan. 2015
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#9555 02-13-2007 03:09 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Mike G,
No,
In an employer sponsored health care plan the amount you have taken out of your pay is in pre tax dollars so when it is disbursed to a health care providor you have, in essence, already taken the deduction for it. In fact, when it is subtracted from your pay it is as if you are getting a deduction for it.
This arrangement is much better for you in this respect since you don't have to meet the filing limits of itemizing your deductions nor the 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income limit you must exceed if you do itemize your deductions.
Taxpayers may also be able to set up Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) and contribute tax deductible dollars each year. HSA's are a type of medical savings account set up to pay for qualified medical expenses of individual(s) covered by a High Deductible Health Plan. These contributions also do not need to meet or exceed the above limits and are therefore much more benefical to the taxpayer.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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