out of country med expense not illegal, but deductible??

[schirallicpa]

My client went to Cancun to have procedures done that are not available in US. It seems to be a bit grey. Or gray. But I am finding that if the procedure is illegal, then it is not covered. Well, there was nothing illegal about it. Just not available. Ok - so therefore it is not FDA approved. And therefore his insurance won't pay for it. But does that mean it is not deductible?

Finding conflicting stuff on internet - of course. And what I have dug up so far in basic pubs and reference doesn't seem to go far enough to discuss treatments like this.

Sadly - the procedure didn't help anyway.

Any thoughts on this one?

[JohnH]

If it isn't illegal and treatment for a legitimate medical condition (not cosmetic,etc) , it's probably deductible. Transportation and lodging (within limits) are also deductible.

Here's a link to a discussion on this subject from the Tax Book forum a few weeks ago. The writer waffles quite a bit, but maybe there's something in there which might help you:

http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-foreign-medical-expenses/

[grandmabee]

so are the drugs people get in Canada also deductible? Prescriptions is what I mean

[Lee B]

Actually a number of large corporations, including I believe Walmart have arranged for complicated expensive surgeries

to be done overseas i.e. India & Thailand and if the employee agrees then they pick up100 % of the cost

[kcjenkins]

TAKE IT. As long as it's not illegal.