17 Medical Expenses Tax Deductions in Canada

There is a common assumption that due to the universal healthcare system, Canadians don’t need to worry about medical costs. This assumption is untrue. Many Canadians have surprisingly steep medical bills, which is why the CRA lets Canadians claim eligible medical expenses as a credit on their taxes.

However, there are also non-eligible medical expenses. For this reason, it’s important for you to do your research on what you can claim for tax credit before claiming medical expenses.

Key Takeaways

• Eligible medical expenses must be recognized by a licensed healthcare provider.
• Expenses incurred are deductible up to $2,479 or 3% of your net income.
• Canada covers most medical expenses either as deductibles or under universal healthcare.
• Many non-eligible expenses have exceptions in certain situations. 
• You may carry over expenses from the previous year as long as they were incurred within the past 12 months.
• You may claim travel expenses for treatments in some but not all cases.
• Tax credit only applies to medical expenses not covered by another health insurance plan.

Table of Contents

• CRA-Approved Medical Expenses Tax Deduction in Canada
• Medical Expenses Not Eligible for Tax Deduction in Canada
• Simplify Your Tax Preparation with FreshBooks
• Frequently Asked Questions

17 CRA-Approved Medical Expenses Tax Deductions in Canada

Eligible expenses must be prescribed by a recognized medical practitioner, needed, and paid without reimbursement. There is also a threshold of $2,479 or 3% of your net income. Here are 17 medical expenses that are approved by the Canada Revenue Agency as tax-deductible:

1. Prescription Medications 

Eligible prescription medications must be prescribed by a licensed practitioner. Over-the-counter medications do not qualify. Prescription supplements also do not qualify, with the exception of Vitamin B12. Medical cannabis may qualify if the patient has valid documentation stating the need and is registered with the licensed seller they’re purchasing from.

2. Medical Services 

Eligible medical services vary based on province, so you should consult the Government of Canada website to verify which services qualify in your province. Eligible services may be reimbursed regardless of whether you received the treatment in or out of your home province or Canada. However, the out-of-province or country practitioner must be licensed in their jurisdiction. 

3. Service Animals

Costs related to training and caring for a service animal may be eligible for tax credit in some cases. Emotional support and therapy animals do not qualify. Eligible service animals include those for:

• Blindness
• Deafness
• A physical impairment that restricts mobility
• Epilepsy
• Autism
• Diabetes (for expenses incurred after 2013)
• Some psychiatric conditions in cases where the animal is trained to respond to psychiatric incidents, such as a PTSD flashback (for expenses incurred after 2017)

4. Medical Devices and Equipment 

Most medical devices are eligible if they are prescribed by a licensed practitioner. Paid assistive devices are only eligible if prescribed. For example, television closed caption decoders purchased out of pocket without a prescription would not qualify, although they would if they were prescribed.

5. Vision Care

Any device that assists with vision correction is eligible for tax credit. This includes glasses, contact lenses, laser eye surgery, and other assistive vision devices such as prescription swimming goggles. The cost of both lenses and frames for glasses is refundable on your income tax return. Medical services to help correct vision, such as regular eye exams, are also claimable expenses. 

6. Sexual Reassignment Surgery

Sexual reassignment surgery usually qualifies as a tax-deductible expense in Canada. However, the procedure must be performed by a licensed practitioner or hospital to qualify. You must also prove that the surgery is part of ongoing treatment for gender dysphoria disorder and not for cosmetic reasons. Other forms of gender-affirming care qualify as long as they meet these same qualifications. For instance, laser hair removal as part of gender dysphoria treatment would qualify, but purely cosmetic hair removal would not qualify.

7. Dental Services 

Dental services are only eligible if the service is for a medical need. This would include any dental health procedures (such as cleaning or fillings), dentures, and any necessary medications related to a dental procedure. Cosmetic dental procedures do not qualify with the exception of braces. 

8. Psychological Services 

Psychological services are only eligible if they are recommended by a medical practitioner. If mental functions are severely impacted, you may qualify for the disability tax credit. To qualify, your mental impairment must render you unable to perform everyday tasks or perform them 3 times slower than the average for a person in your age range. This must be an issue 90% of the time for a period longer than 12 months and an impairment that does not improve with the use of psychiatric medication. 

9. Nursing Care 

Any amount paid for a licensed nurse is an eligible medical expense. This includes home care attendants who help individuals perform needed functions in their everyday lives. Deductible nurse expenses include the nurse’s salary, food preparation, housekeeping, health care, some grooming expenses, transportation, and activities.

10. Travel for Medical Treatment 

Travel expenses for medical treatment are only eligible if you traveled further than 40 kilometers to receive treatment. However, you must prove that reasonable treatment was not available any closer to your home to receive a tax credit for the travel expense. You also must show that you chose the most direct route to your location and still exceeded 40 kilometers. 

Lodging expenses and accommodation expenses are only deductible if you need to travel more than 80 kilometers for treatment. Proving that there were no reasonable options closer and that you took the most direct route is also required to deduct accommodation expenses for medical travel. 

11. Healthcare Premiums 

Premiums paid toward a private health services plan may be eligible as long as 90% of the premiums go toward eligible medical expenses as specified by the Canada Revenue Agency. For instance, if ineligible cosmetic procedures take up more than 90% of the cost of your health insurance premiums, paying into those premiums wouldn’t qualify.

12. Fertility Services

Medical expenses paid to help a patient conceive a child are eligible for tax deductions. The service must be performed or overseen by a public or licensed private health centre to qualify. Expenses paid toward a surrogate mother or sperm/ova/embryo donor are eligible if incurred after 2022 and as long as the surrogate/donor is from Canada. An example of such an expense would be paying for medical exams for a surrogate mother. Freezing one’s sperm or ova with the intent of conceiving a child in the future also qualifies for deductions. 

13. Mobility Aids 

Walking aids, standing devices, wheelchairs, and crutches all qualify for a tax credit. Modified vehicles designed to allow a person with physical impairments to drive also qualify with a prescription. 20% of the fees paid for a van used to transport a person in a wheelchair can also be reimbursed. However, this amount has a limit of $5,000 with the exception of Ontario where the limit is $7,703.

14. Therapeutic Services 

The cost of personalized therapy for a person who qualifies for the disability tax credit is eligible. Rehabilitative therapy also qualifies as an eligible medical expense. Therapy must be prescribed and delivered by a licensed psychologist, doctor, or nurse depending on the nature of the mental or physical impairment.

15. Home Renovations 

Renovation expenses qualify if the renovations are to increase the mobility of a person in their own home, making them eligible for the home accessibility tax credit. They cannot be done with the expectation that the renovations will increase the value of the property. Examples may include buying and installing wheelchair ramps, lowering cabinets, or enlarging doorways. This applies to costs related to modifying an existing home or building a new house. 

16. Certain Education and Training Costs

Some training costs to help an abled person care for a disabled family member may be eligible if the disabled person is unable to function without the family member’s support. Tutoring services for a person with a severe learning disability may also qualify. Tutoring must be in addition to primary schooling and certified as needed by a medical practitioner. 

17. Wigs

The cost of purchasing a wig may be eligible for tax credit if the person buying the wig is experiencing abnormal hair loss due to an illness, accident, or medical treatment. A licensed medical professional must verify in writing that the wig is being purchased by a person in this situation.  

Don’t miss deducting any of your eligible medical expenses on your next tax return. Watch the video below to see how you can simplify your tax preparation process with FreshBooks.

Medical Expenses Not Eligible for Tax Deduction in Canada

The Canada Revenue Agency specifies non-deductible medical expenses as anything that is not a medical need as verified by a healthcare provider. You also cannot claim medical expenses that are reimbursed by other means.

Non-Prescription Medications 

Any over-the-counter medications such as non-prescription painkillers, antacids, or antihistamines do not qualify. This is true even if the non-prescription medication is to help manage a chronic illness or disability. Over-the-counter medications recommended by a physician also do not count without an official prescription.

Cosmetic Surgery 

Any form of cosmetic or “plastic” surgery does not qualify if the procedure is purely for cosmetic purposes. There is an exception if the cosmetic surgery was performed under compassionate grounds. For example, prosthetic breasts may qualify for a person who received a mastectomy due to breast cancer treatment. 

Health Club Memberships 

Health club memberships including gym, fitness, and recreational centres do not qualify as eligible medical expenses. Some services offered at such a facility may qualify in some cases. For instance, physical therapy performed by a licensed physiotherapist at a health club may qualify, depending on the circumstances. 

Vitamins and Supplements 

With the exception of Vitamin B12, vitamins, and supplements do not qualify as a deductible expense, even if prescribed by a licensed physician. This also includes supplements other than Vitamin B12 that require a prescription to purchase. 

Birth Control

Non-prescription contraception is not a qualifying medical expense. However, birth control pills prescribed by a medical practitioner do qualify as a deductible expense. In this situation, the contraceptive medication must be prescribed with the intent of improving the life of someone with a medical condition that can be treated or better managed with birth control pills. 

The province of British Columbia recently made birth control free through BC Medical. While this is technically not a tax deduction, it is worth noting as this particular expense may receive more coverage in the future.

Abortion is legal in all Canadian provinces, and historically this was an ineligible medical expense. However, as of March 2023, the Canadian government announced that abortion costs will be partially covered under universal healthcare. 

Specialized Food

With the exception of gluten-free food, specialty foods for people with dietary restrictions do not qualify as a deductible expense. This includes organic food, sugar-free food, and allergen-free food. People who wish to claim medical expenses on gluten-free food must provide written proof from a medical professional that they need gluten-free food for a medical condition, such as Celiac disease. 

Weight Loss Programs 

Weight loss programs are not a tax-deductible expense in Canada. This is true even if weight loss is recommended by medical practitioners. This also applies to weight loss supplements. Many weight loss programs and supplements are unregulated, which is why they cannot be officially claimed for a tax credit.

Cosmetic Dentistry 

With the exception of orthodontic procedures like braces and teeth straightening, cosmetic dentistry is not eligible as a deductible expense. This includes teeth whitening, veneers, and dental implant devices that are purely for cosmetic purposes. Eligible orthodontic procedures can be claimed for yourself, your common-law partner, or any dependent child under 18.

Hair Replacement or Removal

Hair replacements and hair transplant surgeries are classified as cosmetic procedures. For this reason, they do not qualify for tax credits. This also applies to hair growth serums or supplements. Hair removal procedures are not usually eligible. However, electrolysis or laser hair removal performed by a licensed medical professional does qualify for the tax credit.

Veterinary Expenses

Tax-deductible medical expenses must be for yourself or a human dependent. Veterinary expenses do not qualify, except in some cases for a service animal. In this case, the service animal is considered a medical necessity for a human, and the animal’s ability to perform is considered part of the human’s healthcare needs. Pet insurance options for non-service animals are available in Canada. However, these are not covered by federal tax under universal healthcare. 

Medical Expenses Already Reimbursed 

Medical tax credit is intended for unreimbursed medical expenses. Costs that have been reimbursed by other means do not qualify for tax credit. This includes those reimbursed by health insurance premiums, private health services, and employer medical benefits. If your health insurance plan reimbursed only part of your expenses, you may still be eligible for tax credit on the remainder in some situations. 

Medical Expenses Claimed in Previous Years

You can only claim expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, or any dependent children within 12 months of the current tax year. You may claim some expenses from the previous tax year as long as they were not claimed during that tax season. For example, while filing your 2024 tax return, you may only include expenses from 2023 if they were not already claimed on your 2023 return.

Simplify Your Tax Preparation With FreshBooks

FreshBooks stands out as one of the top accounting software tools for any small business owner. However, freelancers and self-employed individuals can also use Freshbooks to keep all of their expenses in order. Claim all your eligible medical expenses this tax season by using FreshBooks to keep track of everything you’re entitled to deduct from your taxes.

Sign up for your free trial today to see how much easier filing your income tax return could be. Try FreshBooks free!

Medical costs aren’t the only tax deductions Canadians can claim. Learn more about tax write-offs for small businesses in Canada before you file your next return.

FAQs About Medical Expense Tax Deduction in Canada

All procedures performed for medical or reconstructive purposes and reasonable travel expenses to receive treatment may be covered for you by the Canadian government. Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about medical-related tax deductions.

What is the medical expenses tax deduction? 

The medical expenses tax deduction in Canada is a non-refundable tax credit Canadians can claim on their personal tax return. This credit is called the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC). Because it is a non-refundable tax credit, you can subtract it from your tax owed as long as it does not bring your balance above 0.

It’s easy to track and calculate your Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) with FreshBooks. Our accounting software lets you easily track all of your expenses in one centralized location to give you a clear picture of what you may receive from your medical expense tax credit. 

Are medical expenses tax deductible in Canada? 

Most medical expenses are tax deductible or covered by universal healthcare in Canada. Exceptions include cosmetic, veterinary, and non-prescription services. These services may still be covered in some cases.

FreshBooks can help you keep track of all your tax deductible medical costs. This way, you won’t forget to claim anything you’re entitled to at the end of this tax year.

How much medical expense can I claim on my taxes? 

The maximum amount of medical expenses for tax deduction in Canada is either 3% of your net income or $2,479, whichever is lower. For example, if 3% of your net income is $1,200, you can claim $1,200, but if 3% of your net income is $3,000, you can only claim $2,479.

Can I carry over medical expenses for taxes? 

You can carry over medical expenses for taxes if they were incurred within 12 months of the end of the current tax year. However, you need to be sure that they were not claimed by you or anyone else in the previous tax season before adding them to your current return. By tracking claims with FreshBooks, you can be sure that you’re not repeating claims this tax season.

Do I have to attach medical receipts to my tax return? 

You will need to attach your medical receipts to your tax return if you’re filing your return on paper. If you’re filing electronically, you should keep your receipts but you won’t need to attach them.

To keep your records organized, you can store financial data on your medical receipts using FreshBooks. This will help you easily retain records of all eligible medical expenses for tax deductions. 

How do you calculate medical expense tax deductions?

First, determine whether 3% of your net income is lower than $2,479. Then, take the lowest marginal tax rate in your province plus the federal tax rate and multiply it by the minimum threshold. Here’s how that will look as a formula:

• Medical Expenses – 3% or $2,479 = X
• X (Provincial Rate + 0.15) = Medical Expense Tax Credit

Note: 0.15 was chosen because 15% is the lowest marginal tax rate at the federal government level.

More Useful Resources

• Disability Tax Credit
• Home Accessibility Tax Credit

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