Seth Breidbart wrote:
- quote -

Regardless of what a doctor 'prescribes' (e.g. my Scotch
whiskey to help thin the blood), the rules dictate that
the medicine must be one that "requires" a doctor's
prescription to be dispensed.

this being the case, I'm sure you didn't try to deduct the
costs of said OTC medicines.

ChEAr$,
Harlan

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Herb Smith <smithff33[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

I've had doctors write prescriptions for OTC medicines.

Seth

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AES <siegman[at]stanford.edu> wrote:

- quote -

No, none of your examples can be deducted on Schedule A.

You might have much better results claiming them as allowed
medical expenses on a Sec 125 medical reimbursement plan
or even an HSA.

__
Art Kamlet ArtKamlet [at] AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH

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Dick Adams <rdadams[at]smart.net> wrote:
- quote -

it is not deductible.

Yes, in professional parlance, this sucks.

__
Art Kamlet ArtKamlet [at] AOL.com Columbus OH K2PZH

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AES wrote:

- quote -

Sorry, NOT deductible without a prescription. The Drs visit
is either deductible or covered by insurance, but not both.

Have you noticed all the (previously) prescription medicines
now available in OTC dosages? Actually end up costing the
patient MORE, as they are not usually covered by insurance
nor are deductible on Schedule A.

This is progress?

Moderator: No, it is tax simplification. <g
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AES <siegman[at]stanford.edu> wrote:

- quote -

On page 15 of Pub 502 in the left hand column under
'Nonprescription Drugs and Medicines', it reads "Except for
insulin, you cannot include, in Medical Expenses, amounts you
paid for a drug that is not prescibed.' <Note: I corrected the
IRS' punctuation.
Yes, in professional parlance, this sucks.

Dick

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AES <siegman[at]stanford.edu> wrote:

- quote -

I'm not a tax pro, but here is my opinion.

Not deductible as medical expenses on Schedule A, but can be
paid with pre-tax dollars if you have a flexible spending
plan or similar medical reimbursement plan. I try to get a
note from the doctor when he says I should take a
non-prescription med just so I have documentation that I did
not make this decision on my own.

With more prescriptions moving to OTC versions, this can be
a considerable expense in some cases. My medical plan no
longer pays for prescription drugs if there is an OTC
version in the same strength. The cost of the OTC version
is much lower than the prescription version but still higher
than my co-pay would have been for the prescription.

--
Vic Roberts
Replace xxx with vdr in e-mail address.

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Over the counter (non-prescription) medicines or treatments
-- includable in itemized medical deductions or not?

Examples:

--Plantar warts or athlete's foot: doctor looks at it, says,
"Yeah, get some xxx cream next time you're in Long's Drugs"

--Daily aspirin for heart attack prevention: doc says,
"Yeah, that's a good idea, you should do it, baby aspirin is
big enough dose".

[Trivial deductions, probably so -- but some of those creams
and lotions get damn expensive these days.]

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